By Civ Alonzo-Cruz
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) announced on Wednesday (Dec.15) that they will allow the operation of cockpits and traditional cockfighting in areas under Alert Level 2, provided that there are no objections from the local government units (LGUs).
Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in the press briefing that traditional cockfighting will now be allowed, subject to strict observance of standard health protocol.
“Nagkaroon ng desisyon ang IATF na kung saan pinapayagan ang operasyon ng sabungan at tradisyunal na sabong na nasa ilalim ng Alert Level 2 kung walang pagtutol dito ang mga local government units [LGUs] kung saan gaganapin ang sabong,” Nograles said.
Under Resolution No. 154 of the IATF, cockfighting will be allowed in cockpits operating in a maximum 50% venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only.
All on-site workers and employees and individuals attending these establishments must also be fully inoculated.
Betting shall be cashless and shall use technology-based platforms, which means no physical exchange of cash in the cockpit and no verbal placing of bets.
“Hindi na po puwedeng tumaya nang nagsisigawan o nagsasalita,” Nograles said.
Minimum public health standards and technology-based betting shall be strictly enforced by the LGU where traditional cockfighting shall be conducted and monitored by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“We enjoin LGUs that will allow the resumption of cockfighting operations to strictly enforce and implement these protocols and to shut down operators that fail to adhere to minimum health standards,” Nograles added.
The IATF announced on Wednesday that the entire country will remain on Alert Level 2 until the end of 2021. -bny
