The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlalawigan has stepped in to protect one of the country’s long-standing cultural practices after reports surfaced that some cockpit operators have been pressuring enthusiasts to switch exclusively to machine-based betting.
Under a newly approved resolution, cockpit operators and promoters in Bacolod are now directed to give sabong patrons full freedom to choose how they want to place their wagers — whether through electronic machines or the traditional “kumarera” hand-signal system that has defined cockfighting culture for generations.
Councilor Dindo Ramos, author of the resolution, said the move comes after concerns that certain operators were coercing bettors to use machines by limiting access, manipulating gate fees or offering preferential areas for machine users.
Ramos stressed that such practices not only undermine personal choice but may also amount to discrimination.
“This violates the free will of patrons and creates an unfair environment that favors machine-based bettors,” he said.
The councilor underscored that cockfighting is more than a sport in the Philippines — it is a community tradition deeply embedded in local culture, particularly in Bacolod.
The kumarera system, he added, is an essential part of this identity and is protected under Presidential Decree 449, or the Cockfighting Law of 1974, which mandates the observance of customary practices in cockfighting operations.
By reinforcing that both traditional and electronic betting must coexist without prejudice, Ramos said the city government aims to keep the cultural fabric of sabong intact while allowing modern systems to operate — so long as they do not compromise fairness or heritage.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that operations remain compliant with national and local laws and that traditions passed down through generations are not pushed aside by emerging technologies,” he said.
The resolution signals the city’s stance: Modernization can take place, but not at the expense of cultural tradition or the rights of sabong patrons./WDJ