SEN. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao pressed for the passing into law of Senate Bill No. 193 and 805 that would create the Philippine Boxing Commission and Combat Sports Commission amid opposition from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
“We’re in the middle of the pandemic and we’ll use this time to prepare,” Pacquiao, 41, told the online committee hearing from his home in General Santos City. “We want to institutionalize the Philippine Boxing Commission and Combat Sports Commission with a clear mandate.”
Pacquiao said he is speaking from experience as he stressed the need for both commissions.
“We’re talking about the lives of many boxers, and there are many boxers who died or got injured, so it is time to have a specialized function to focus on boxing and combat sports,” he said.
Pacquiao said this marks the first time for Filipino boxers and professional fighters to have a separate government agency to focus on their needs—but at the same time asked the GAB for understanding.
“I ask for understanding and apology to the people who are against this bill, but that’s how we boxers feel,” he said. “We really need an institution which would focus only on boxing and combat sports and not other sports.”
“So at this point, the Philippine Boxing Commission and Combat Sports Commission is necessary to focus on the most difficult sports in the world,” he said. “That’s what we need and we’re hoping for your understanding.”
GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra and boxing commissioner Mar Masanguid expressed their opposition to the bills and suggested to the hearing that the budget intended for the commissions be incorporated instead to the agency’s annual budget.
The bills are seeking a P150 million from General Appropriations Act upon its implementation. The figures are P30 million more than the GAB’s P120 million annual appropriation.
Mitra and Masanguid said the GAB’s budget covers 13 sports with professional athletes and the allocation for boxing is pegged at P40 million.
“They are pushing for a creation of a boxing and contact sports division during a pandemic that has a bigger budget than the [existing] GAB which has tried its best to push for reforms and adopt to the current [pandemic] situation,” Mitra told BusinessMirror.
“It’s simply untimely specially now when we should be right-sizing and conserving all resources to fight the virus,” he added.
Committee on Sports Chairman Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed support to the passing of the bill, which includes alternative livelihood programs for retired or injured boxers and combatants—plus social pension and health-care benefits.
Several boxing managers and promoters—including Liza Elorde, Universal Reality Combat Championship founder Alvin Aguilar—attended the hearing.