The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Wednesday allowed traditional cockfighting and resumption of cockpit operations in areas under Alert Level 2.
In a press briefing, acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said cockpit operations and traditional cockfighting will still need approval from local government units.
Under Resolution No. 154 of IATF, cockfighting will be allowed in cockpits operating in a maximum 50 percent venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only.
The IATF also imposed the following protocols for the said activity:
- All on-site workers/employees of these establishments are fully vaccinated against COVID-19
- Betting shall be cashless and shall use technology-based platforms only i.e., no physical exchange of cash anywhere in the cockpit and no oral placing of bets;
- Minimum public health standards and technology-based betting shall be strictly enforced by the local government unit where such traditional cockfighting shall be conducted, and monitored by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“We enjoin LGUs that will allow the resumption of cockfighting operations to strictly, strictly enforce and implement these protocols and to shut down operators that fail to adhere to minimum health standards,” Nograles said.
The entire Philippines is currently under Alert Level 2 status until the end of the year.
