Why Should We Legalize Keirin Race in the Philippines?

Betting on dreams is the business of gambling. There is a prospect of becoming a millionaire overnight even just a few thousand pesos richer. Indeed, the poor majority seem to find a real bargain in betting, no matter what odds of winning are. Keirin, in the eyes of the law and government is illegal. Why Keirin race? What is illegal here is its “operation” needs congressional franchise  the necessary permit or authority to operate the game or business.

However, the act of betting is not evil or illegal. Lets take the case of an ordinary store that operates without the necessary license. This business operation is illegal due to lack or absence of the necessary license. However, buying from this store is not illegal. The act of betting is a social act aside from an act of personal desire to win some money. The choice of money of riders that compete with one another in the veledrome is something that generates discussions and exchanges. It is not something that is done in secrecy behind closed doors. What is so terrible about? If the poor and destitute to put their last savings- and their last hope- into bet on three numbers, lotto or fighting cock, they do so out of their own free will. The illegality of keirin obviously doesn’t stop people from betting.

This may be the first step towards stamping out culture of corruption among law enforcement officers and local officials. What is more immoral is to discuss about it, talk about it or argue about it without offering any alternative or affirmative action that would ease the burden of poverty to the majority of the people in the country.   Never mind those moralists who, more popish than pope, opposed legalization of Keirin race in the Philippines, yet offers no solution to alleviate the suffering of the people. To make Keirin legal will be dependent on our lawmakers. Is there any business entity in operation today that can provide its workers with these amount of P 300T daily or P9M a month?

The factor of moral value attached to the game of Keirin and to any game for that matter, is dependent on the players. Roughly 11% of the country"tms labor force is unemployed. The more employment means more revenue for the government from income taxes. As an operating business, approval of the Keirin Race project provides jobs to plenty of unemployed masses, People who are in dire need of work to earn a living for their families. As men of intellect and freedom, we know our limits; we can tell if it is enough or more than enough; we can tell when to go on or when to make halt. Can anyone point out a person who committed suicide for losing Keirin? Abandoning his or her family? There are more families broken and more businesses that have gone bankrupt because casinos. The legalization of Keirin race in the Philippines will ensure that proper revenues will go to the government which may be utilized to support operational and administrative activities of law enforcement agencies for the promotion of peace and order.

Written by: Manding Bautista-  0977 401 5591