TAPIK sa balikat ng yumuyukong industriya ng horceracing ang pakikipagpulong ni Albay 2nd District Representative Joey S. Salceda, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman, sa major stakeholders nitong Miyerkoles sa Mandaluyong City.
Sa pagpupulong, bahagi ng serye ng ‘roundtable discussion’ sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan, kinatawan ng horse racing clubs at horse racing stakeholders, na inorganisa ni Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra, iginiit ang napapanahong pagkilos upang maibalik ang mataas na koleksyon sa mga karera, sa pamamagitan ng mga bagong batas at pulisiya tulad ng pagkakaraon ng mas matibay na ‘legislative franchises’.
“In cooperation with Philippine Racing Commission (PhilRaCom) Commissioner Reli de Leon, GAB spearheaded the dialogue with Congressman Salceda to discuss about the current issues affecting the horse racing industry, such as the term of legislative franchises, possible adoption of new measures through policy-making procedure, and other topics affecting the plight of the horse racing sector,” pahayag ni Mitra, dating Governor at Congressman ng Palawan.
Iginiit ng mga kinatawan ng horse racing clubs na isa sa malaking dahil sa pagbaba ng ‘revenue collection’ ng horse racing ay dahil sa mataas taxes na kinukuha ng pamahalaan sa winnings at importation ng stallions, gayundin sa pagkain.
Nabanggit ni Congressman Salceda na ang nakokolektang revenue ng pamahalan mula sa iba’t ibang horse racing activities noong 2019 aybumagsak sa P2.3 bilyon mula sa dating P5.7 billon pesos.
“The first step we need to take to keep the horse racing industry from extinction is the restructuring of taxes on winnings and importation of horses. Lower taxes will surely encourage horse breeders to import more horses,” sambit ni Mitra.
Sinabi naman ni PhilRaCom Commissioner de Leon na napapanahon na na ikabit sa PCSO ang horse racing events upang mapataas ang bilang ng mga mananaya at makaiwas sa ilegal na OTB (Off-Tack Betting).
“If the bettor can place his bet on a particular lotto outlet, our horse racing events will become nationwide; thus, the number of bettors will surely increase,” pahayag ni Commissioner de Leon.
-EDWIN ROLLON