Off-track horserace betting stations and licensed cockpits are now back in business.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved the protocols set for the resumption of operations of these two industries in a meeting held Thursday evening.
Signing the approval papers were IATF co-chairperson Karlo Nograles and Department of National Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
Games and Amusements Board chairman Baham Mitra expressed his delight with this development.
“We are happy and relieved that millions of people depending on horseracing and cockfighting will be allowed to go back to their livelihood again. We thank the IATF for making sure of the safety of the sabungeros.
“Our gratitude also to the cockfight operators, breeders assoc, our congressmen sympathetic to the industry, agri vet companies, media, and others who have one way or another helped push for the resumption,” expressed Mitra.
For off-track horserace betting stations, these may only operate in areas under General Community Quarantine or lower. The implementation of strict health and safety protocols is a must for a station.
On the other hand, cockfighting activities will only be allowed in areas under MGCQ or lower.
No audience, online or remote betting, and telecast of the sabong events will be given permission by the IATF.
This unless the local government units allow it and proper clearance have been acquired by the organizers.
“My call to sabungeros is let’s be safe and follow the strict health and safety protocols provided by the IATF and the DILG. This is proof that the Philippines is back on Its feet again,’ added Mitra.
For the past few months, cock-breeders have been left in limbo as their fighters have become oversized due to inactivity. The same goes for racehorses.
