Presidential Decree No. 810 (PD 810) — An Act Granting the Philippine Jai-Alai and Amusement Corporation a Franchise to Operate, Construct and Maintain a Fronton for Basque Pelota and Similar Games of Skill in the Greater Manila Area.
WHEREAS, by virtue of the provisions of Commonwealth Act
numbered 485 the franchise to operate and maintain a fronton for the
Basque pelota and similar games of skill in the City of Manila, shall
expire on October, 1975 whereupon the ownership of the land, buildings
and improvements used in the said game will be transferred without
payment to the government by operation of law;
WHEREAS, there is a pressing need not only to further
develop the game as a sport and amusement for the general public but.
also to exploit its full potential in support of the government's
objectives and development programs;
WHEREAS, Basque pelota is a game of international renown,
the maintenance and promotion of which will surely assist the tourism
industry of the country;
WHEREAS, the tourism appeal of the game will be enhanced
only with the government's support and inducement in developing the
sport to a level at par with international standards;
WHEREAS, once such tourism appeal is developed, the same
will serve as a stable and expanding base for revenue generation for the
government's development projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
hereby decree as follows:
SECTION 1. Any provision of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, there is hereby granted to the Philippine Jai-Alai and
Amusement Corporation, a corporation duly organized and registered under
the laws of the Philippines, hereinafter called the grantee or its
successors, for a period of twenty-five years from the approval of this
Act, extendable for another twenty-five years without the necessity of
another franchise, the right, privilege and authority to construct,
operate and maintain a court for Basque Pelota (including the games of pala,
raqueta, cestapunta, remonte and mano) within the greater
Manila area, establish branches thereof for booking purposes and hold or
conduct Basque pelota games therein with bettings either directly or by
means of electric and/or computerized totalizator.
The games to be conducted by the grantee shall be under the
supervision of the Games and Amusements Board, hereinafter referred to
as the Board, which shall enforce the laws, rules and regulations
governing Basque pelota as provided in Commonwealth Act numbered four
hundred and eighty-five, as amended, and all the officials of the game
and pelotaris therein shall be duly licensed as such by the Board.
SEC. 2. The grantee or its duly authorized agent may
offer, take or arrange bets within or outside the place, enclosure or
court where the Basque pelota games are held: Provided, That bets
offered, taken or arranged outside the place, enclosure or court where
the games are held, shall be offered, taken or arranged only in places
duly licensed by the corporation, Provided, however, That the
same shall be subject to the supervision of the Board. No person other
than the grantee or its duly authorized agents shall take or arrange
bets on any pelotari or on the game, or maintain or use a totalizator or
other device, method or system to bet on any pelotari or on the game
within or without the place, enclosure or court where the games are held
by the grantee. Any violation of this section shall be punished by a
fine of not more than two thousand pesos or by imprisonment of not more
than six months, or both in the discretion of the Court. If the offender
is a partnership, corporation, or association, the criminal liability
shall devolve upon its president, directors or any other officials
responsible for the violation.
SEC. 3. The grantee shall provide mechanical and/or
computerized devices, namely: a) electric totalizator; b) machine
directly connected to a computer in a display board, for the sale of
tickets, including, those sold from the off-court stations; c) modern
sound system and loud speakers; d) facilities that will bring safety,
security, comfort and convenience to the public; e) modern
intercommunication devices; and f) such other facilities, devices and
instruments for clean, honest and orderly Basque pelota games, within
three years from the approval of this Act.
The Board shall
assign its auditors and/or inspectors to supervise and regulate the
placing of bets, proper computation of dividends and the distribution of
wager funds.
SEC. 4. The total wager fund or gross receipts from the
sale of betting tickets will be apportioned as follows: eighty-five per
centum (85%) shall be distributed in the form of dividends among the
holders of "win" or "place" number or holders of the winning combination
or grouping of numbers as the case may be. The remaining balance of
fifteen per centum (15%) shall be distributed as follows: eleven and one
half per centum (11 ½%) shall be set aside as the commission fee of the
grantee, and three and one-half per centum (3 ½%) thereof shall be set
aside and alloted to any special health, educational, civic, cultural,
charitable, social welfare, sports, and other similar projects as may be
directed by the President. The receipts from betting corresponding to
the fraction of ten centavos eliminated from the dividends paid to the
winning tickets, commonly known as breakage, shall also be set aside for
the above-named special project.
SEC. 5. The provision of any existing law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the grantee is hereby authorized to hold Basque pelota
games (including the games of pala, requeta, cestapunta, remonte
and mano) on all days of the week except Sundays and official
holidays.
SEC. 6. The provisions of Commonwealth Act numbered four
hundred and eighty-five as amended, shall be deemed incorporated herein,
provided that the provisions of this Act shall take precedence over the
provisions thereof and all other laws, executive orders and regulations
which are inconsistent herewith.
SEC. 7. The grantee shall not lease, transfer, grant the
usufruct of, sell or assign this franchise permit, or the rights or
privileges acquired thereunder to any person, firm, company, corporation
or other commercial or legal entity, nor merge with any other person,
company or corporation organized for the same purpose, without the
previous approval of the President of the Philippines.
SEC. 8. For the purposes of this franchise, the grantee is
herein authorized to make use of the existing fronton, stadium and
facilities located along Taft Avenue, City of Manila, belonging to the
government by virtue of the provisions of Commonwealth Act numbered four
hundred and eighty-five.
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of October, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
