Cockpit operators oppose tax hike

CEBU, Philippines - Two cockpit operators, including a barangay captain, have opposed the proposed amendment to the Cebu City Tax Ordinance seeking to impose 100-percent increase in the tax rate for cockpits and other amusement centers.

The proposed amendment to Section 64 © (14) of the ordinance, sponsored Councilor Augustus Pe Jr., was submitted for public hearing by the City Council yesterday.

Agsungot Barangay Captain Pastor Alcover II and Victoriano Chiongbian said the proposed measure is “unfair” and counterproductive. Alcover and Chiongbian who operate a cockpit in Agsungot and Tejero, respectively, said that cockpits are among the heavily taxed industry.

Chiongbian said that 60-percent of their income goes to the government in the form of taxes and other regulating fees. He said the remaining 40 percent of their income would still be deducted of the operating expenses such as the salaries of their personnel, power and some other expenditure leaving them only a little amount as their profit.

Alcover on the other hand warned of the possible proliferation of illegal cockfighting or “tigbakay” if the city government pursues its plan to increase the tax rates for cockpit operations.

He explained that increasing the tax rates for cockpit arena will forced the operators to also increase the entrance fee, which might discourage cockfight enthusiasts from going in and would instead hold illegal cockfighting anywhere.

Based on the proposal the city government would increase its annual permit fee from P1,000 to P2,000. The annual tax of P10,000 will also be doubled to P20,000.

In cases of international derby, operators are required to pay P10,000 per day instead of the current P5,000. Rene U. Borromeo/FPL (THE FREEMAN)