Philracom chairman Jaime "Jimmy" Dilag made the announcement even as he assured the racing public that the agency places paramount importance in maintaining the integrity of the sport.
"As the principal regulator of the local horse racing, the Philracom is mandated to raise public confidence in the conduct of the sport and to ensure that it continues to be a major revenue contributor to the government and employment provider to our countrymen," said Dilag.
Dilag also announced that for the first quarter of the current year, total wager sales in local racing has amounted to more than P1.8-billion, while corresponding revenue contribution to the government, in terms of direct betting duties, was already in excess of P277.4-million. The level of racing sales and betting taxes has been increasing by an average of more than 13 percent since the start of the year.
Dilag also took the opportunity to defend the decision of the Philracom Board to allow the start of horse racing activities at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park (SLLP) in Carmona, Cavite last April 1.
"The Philracom has strictly and meticulously supervised the developments at the SLLP since last year and has provided the club with a detailed checklist of requisite facilities for the proper conduct of horse racing activities which they had to provide before they could be granted an official racing permit," Dilag explained.
MJCI was finally granted a racing permit by the Philracom last March 28 after a series of extensive on-site inspections participated in no less by the seven-member Philracom Board and a panel of technical advisers.