E-sabong

E-sabong ban lamented

August 31, 2022 People's Journal 424 views

A FARMER in Echague, Isabela continues to complain about the severe crisis brought about by the ban on online cockfighting or eSabong.

Jay-ar Dagman, who used to benefit from eSabong’s operation, said the ban had severely affected his monthly income.

“Bumaba po at mahina po ‘yung demand ng mais [dahil sa suspensiyon ng e-sabong]. Walang kumukuha sa amin,” said Dagman in an interview.

“Mahirap kasi mahal ‘yung mga bilihin tulad ng mga abono na ginagamit namin para lumaki ‘yung mga mais namin. Bumababa ‘yung demand nila,” he added.

Adding to the farmer’s apprehensions is the expected dip in the price of animal feeds in the market due to decreased demand.

“Pababa ‘yung presyo ng mais gawa ng kakaunti ‘yung demand ng mais. ‘Yung mga kakain sana e, nakukulangan,” aniya. “Para maibenta na agad at mahabol namin ‘yung presyo kasi bababa pa ‘yan.”

Meanwhile, farmers face the possibility of rotting crops if they fail to sell them even at cheaper prices.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the ban on eSabong throughout the country last May.

It was earlier reported that PAGCOR suffered a monthly revenue loss of P650 million from the gamefowl industry due to the ban.

At least P1.37 billion in revenues were collected from seven licensed eSabong operators from January to March 2022. PAGCOR expects a P5 billion revenue loss this year due to the prohibition on eSabong operations.

Dagman also expressed fears on the slow but imminent loss of his source of livelihood.

“Kung magpapatuloy ito kawawa kami, dapat sana mas marami ‘yung katulad ng baboy para tumaas naman presyo ng mais namin,” he stressed.

“Last year po kasi marami ‘yung mga kumakain na baboy at manok, e ngayon kaunti na lang pinapakain, mga baboy na lang,” he added.

The adverse effects of the ban on eSabong is also being felt by various traders connected with the gamefowl industry. Some 3.2 million Filipinos were estimated to have lost their livelihood sources as a result of the ban.

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