MANILA – The services of off-track betting stations operating in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ) are only limited to the sale of tickets, Malacañang said on Friday.
The decision was reached after members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) met on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.
“Off-track betting stations of the Philippine Racing Commission may be allowed to resume, limited to selling tickets only, in areas under GCQ and Modified General Community Quarantine,” Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson, said.
Roque said the resumption of off-track betting stations’ operations would be subject to “strict observance of minimum public health standards.”
The IATF-EID’s decision was contained in Resolution 117 approved on Thursday.
During the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Forum on May 18, Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) chairman Reli del Leon believed that 2021 will be a “fruitful” year for the betting public.
De Leon also said off-track betting stations are “fully operational.”
He added that Philracom has gained headway with its online or digital betting which allows Filipino racing aficionados known as “Bayang Karerista” based abroad to bet on the races.
Since live audiences remain prohibited, races can be seen or watched live through different platforms, including Channels 106 and 107 on Cignal TV.
“We were able to survive,” de Leon said. “This year would be a fruitful year for everybody, including the betting public.” (PNA)
