BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here earned the ire of netizens for endorsing to the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) against coronavirus disease 2019 the request of cockpit manager Ricardo Noble to hold cockfights in this city.
Most of these netizens asked on Facebook: “Why did the city council approve such activity in this time of pandemic?”
Authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the SP’s Committee on Ways and Means, the resolution trended on Facebook after the approval of the city’s legislative body on Sept. 2.
“We just endorsed the request because only the NIATF has the power to approve it,” Espino explained, adding that a large number of people depend on the industry for their income.
According to Espino, the cockfighting industry contributes about P700 million to the economy of not only Bacolod City but also of Negros Occidental.
Councilor Dindo Ramos, for his part, said cockpit operators committed to comply with all the health protocols set by the NIATF.
There is nothing wrong if cockpit operators make their sentiments known to the NIATF, he added.
Under the task force’s guidelines, all leisure and amusement activities are only allowed in areas under modified general community quarantine.
Bacolod is under general community quarantine from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30./PN
