In a recent regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), Duron’s proposed measure hurdled first reading and was referred to the committee on games and amusement chaired by Duron himself.
“Tradition man na ang bulang but still it should be regulated,” he said.
The city has no local ordinance that regulates cockfighting. Duron also said Presidential Decree 449 or the Cockfighting Law of 1974 was not enough because it only focused on days when to conduct regular, special and international cock derbies.
For the proposed ordinance, Duron wanted to clarify how else could the city government benefit from cockfighting, noting that the latter was already generating employment, and revenues for the city government and local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and even transportation.
Among others, Duron wanted to regulate the number of cockfighting hours.
“May ara man iban asta na kaagahon. Ti, may nagasinggitan na da, maka-istorbo especially kon lapit sa mga pamalay,” he said.
He further noted pending bills in Congress giving local government units the authority to issue licenses to cockpits and regulate the conduct of cockfighting.
The city council earlier passed a resolution for the conduct of an investigation in aid of legislation on the alleged violation of the operator of Iloilo Coliseum for holding cockfighting activities from Jan. 30 to 31 in line with the celebration of the feast of Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria despite not having been granted yet with a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) from the SP./PN