Cockpit operators want tax cut

CEBU, Philippines - The cockpit operators in Cebu City are opposing the proposed tax increase and fees by the city treasurer’s office; they are instead asking the city officials to reduce their tax obligations.

Cockpit operator Victoriano Chiongbian described the proposal to increase their taxes as “counter productive” and “unfair”.

Chiongbian used to operate a cockpit in Banawa and is now applying to operate another cockpit in Barangay Tejero.

The proposal is to impose a 100-percent increase in the taxes and fees collected from cockpit operators or promoters of cockfights.

Once the proposed increase is approved, cockpit operators need to pay P20,000 annual tax to the government instead of the existing P10,000. The annual permit fee of P1,000 will also be raised to P2,000.

The Cebu City Gamefowl Commission headed by Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. endorsed the approval of the proposed amendment of the existing Cebu City Tax Code.

“It would not be amiss to stress that the proposed ordinance is ripe for approval by the Cebu City Council because the previous rates of annual permit fees, annual tax and such other related fees were levied yet since 1993 or about 18 years ago, which are now too minimal and unresponsive to the present factual milieu,” Pe said.

Speaking before the city legislators, Chiongbian claimed that the cockpit owners are “heavily taxed” by the government. In fact, about 60 percent of their income goes to taxes and other fees.

Chiongbian said the remaining 40 percent of their income will be spent for the operating expenses leaving them with only a very little amount as profit.

Cockpit operators found an ally with Agsu-ngot barangay captain Pastor Alcover II who stood before the City Council and discouraged the city legislators from imposing any increase.

Alcover said going to cockpits is just a kind of leisure to some person and if the City Council would support the proposal to increase the taxes and fees, some cockpit operators may be compelled to stop its operation.  (FREEMAN)