Council okays sanitary laws for tigbakay

The City Council recently approved a resolution directing the City Health Department and the Association of Barangay Councils to make sure that the conduct of "tigbakay", or open-air cockfighting, follows sanitary requirements.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, author of the resolution, said the need to follow the city's Sanitary Code is a must considering the continuing threat of the bird flu virus.

The public must be protected from this kind of illnesses, especially that some gamecocks used in tigbakay might be imported from countries hit by the bird flu virus, said the councilor.

Labella observed that the crowd-gamecocks arrangement in a tigbakay is different from cockfights held in cockpits where gamecocks are confined to an enclosed arena apart from the audience.

"It is reasonable to assume that during and after the tigbakay, the crowded area where it would be held would have animal feces, nasal secretions and saliva of fighting cocks," Labella explained.

He cited a report from US Center for Disease Control, which says that aside from being contagious among birds, bird flu can make some domesticated birds like chickens, ducks, turkeys and gamecocks very sick and may kill them.

"Some medial studies about avian flu virus indicates that most cases of bird flu infection on humans were brought about from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces," Labella added.

He also mentioned the case of the 13-year-old old cock handler in Vietnam who reportedly died from avian flu virus.

Any incident of similar nature could be prevented from happening in Cebu City, Labella said, but it would be best to ensure that all tigbakay venues in the city are clean and in good sanitary condition during and after the event.

Labella further said that the Revised Sanitary Code of Cebu City obliges every person in charge of any place or premise, whether public or private, to maintain it in clean and sanitary condition. - Wenna A. Berondo/RAE