DAVAO CITY – The city government here will soon craft an ordinance allowing ‘Online Sabong or Electronic Sabong (E-Sabong)’ to generate additional revenues.In a radio interview Monday, Mayor Sara Duterte said she endorsed the matter to the City Council and has seen a possibility of additional revenue should the E-Sabong become an ordinance. “I endorsed it to the City Council because the city government is looking for money from other sources since we cannot rely on our regular sources due to the pandemic,” she said.Duterte explained that the collection of local taxes decreased since most of the businesses suffered due to the COVID-19 impact.“We have reduced our fees and charges because the people requested for it because of the pandemic. So there is a need to look for revenue-generating ordinances,” she pointed out.Duterte also said that having the ordinance probably will prevent authorities from going after cockfight operators who are breaching the health protocols imposed by the city government. “We have a possibility of revenue generation on E-sabong. They can still enjoy it safely in the confines of their cellular phones or laptop. Covid protocols will be followed because only a few of them are in the actual cockpit arena as the audience is just watching online,” Duterte said.Duterte however reiterated distancing will be followed, businesses continue and Dabawenyos at the same time can play.“We know that it [cockfighting] will violate distancing, that is why we look for ways to continue it and at the same time earn revenues for the city government,” Duterte said. It can be recalled that a cock derby at the New Davao Matina Gallera last was one of the major sources of COVID-19 infection in Davao City and the rest of Mindanao.
Its a great move for the Davao government, dami din kasi sabongero sa probinsya, and legalizing online sabong is I think the only way that could keep them in their houses.
