CREATING THE PHILIPPINE GAMEFOWL COMMISSION

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 1802
• Sections: 9

Preamble

WHEREAS, Cockfighting as a Filipino heritage has developed

to the extent that there is a need to reconcile the interest of Filipino

gamefowl breeders and the interest of promoters/operators of international

cockfight derbies who make use of imported gamefowls;

WHEREAS, a recognition of the entertainment and attraction

to tourism aspects of cockfighting must be coupled with continuous government

regulation of such sport;

WHEREAS, there is need to consolidate in one agency the

authority, functions and responsibilities pertinent to the regulation of the

various aspects of cockpit operation, cockfighting and gamefowl breeding

governments as provided for by the Revised Penal Code and various

ordinances and national agencies as provided for in their enabling acts

and statutes;

WHEREAS, in keeping with the multifaceted reforms and

changes, there was a need to amend Sections 2285 and 2286 of the Revised

Administrative Code through the promulgation of Presidential Decree No. 449;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the avowed policies of the

government on cockfighting as contained in Presidential Decree No. 449, there is

need to incorporate relevant details which are not explicitly provided

in Executive Order No. 636;

WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 1416, the President

is empowered to undertake such organizational and related improvements as may be

appropriate in the light of changing circumstances and new developments.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby

order and decree:

Section 1 Creation of the Philippine Gamefowl Commission.

SECTION 1. Creation of the Philippine Gamefowl

Commission.—There is hereby created under the Office of the President, the

Philippine Gamefowl Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which

shall be composed of nine (9) members, as follows: the Director of Animal

Industry, the Chairman of the Games and Amusement Board; a representative of the

Ministry of Local Government and Community Development; a representative of the

Ministry of Tourism; a representative of the Ministry of Finance; and four (4)

other members from the private sector to be appointed by the President, one of

whom shall be a representative of a nationwide recognized cockpit

owners/operators association.

The President shall designate the chairman of the Commission from among its

members.

Section 2 Powers and Functions of the Commission.

SEC. 2. Powers and Functions of the Commission.

—The Commission shall have the following powers, functions and duties:

Promulgate and enforce rules and regulations relative to the holding of

cockfight derbies and cockfights in the Philippines including the frequency

sites, conduct and operation of such derbies and cockfights;

Issue licenses for the holding of international derbies;

Prescribe policy guidelines for the issuance of permits by the Bureau of

Animal Industry for the importation or entry of gamecocks into the country for

breeding or competition purposes:

Fix and periodically revise whenever necessary subject to the approval of

the Ministry of Finance, the rates of license fees and other levies that may be

imposed on local derbies and cockfights and international cockfight derbies,

cockpit personnel and employees;

To promulgate rules and regulations relative to the holding, methods,

procedures, operations and conduct of cockfighting in general as well as

accreditation of cockpit personnel and association of cockpit owners, operators

and lessees, to elevate the standard of cockfighting;

To promulgate its own rules and procedures relative to the conduct of its

own business;

To appoint an Executive-Director, subordinate officials and other personnel

of the Commission and fix their compensation;

To establish uniform rules and regulations to govern actual cockfighting

enforceable in all cockpits in the Philippines and to provide sanctions for

violations thereof;

To deputize any government office, entity, agency and public officer in the

implementation of all laws, decrees, letters of instructions, general orders

pertinent to cockfighting rules and regulations issued by the Commission;

To initiate, undertake, hear and decide any investigation for any violation

of this Decree, rules and regulations of the Commission and in connection

therewith, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum;

To perform such duties and exercise such powers as may be necessary or

incidental to achieve the objectives of this Decree;

To perform such other functions as may be authorized by law.

Section 3

SEC. 3. The terms defined in Presidential Decree No. 449 and

Executive Order No. 636 are herein deemed incorporated.

Section 4

SEC. 4. City and Municipal Mayors with the concurrence of

their respective Sangguniang Panglunsod or Sangguniang Bayan, shall have the

authority to license and regulate regular cockfighting, under the supervision of

the City Mayor and the Provincial Governor, as the case may be. (See PD

1802-A)

Section 5

SEC. 5. Such amount as may be necessary for the operating

expenses of the Commission for the current and immediately following calendar

year is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the appropriations for the

Commission shall be included in the general appropriations act.

Section 6 Penal Provision.

SEC. 6. Penal Provision.— Punishable offenses as

provided for in P.D. 449 shall remain punishable under this Decree and

any violation of the rules and regulations forthwith to be issued by this

Commission shall be treated in accordance with the penal sanctions

provided therein.

Section 7 Repealing Clause.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause.— All laws, specifically

the provisions of the Customs and Tariff Code allowing auction of illegally

imported gamecocks, decrees, charters, executive orders, administrative orders,

proclamations, rules and regulations of parts thereof that are in conflict with

this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 8 Effectivity.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. —This Decree shall take effect

immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of January, in the year of Our

Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-one.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the

Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR.

Deputy Presidential Executive

Assistant

Vol. 25, Vital Documents, Presidential Decree 1980-1981