Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 18) — Senator Manny Pacquiao’s proposal to create a Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission is facing an uphill battle in the Senate after disclosing that putting up the new office would need up to ₱150 million.
In a lengthy interpellation in the plenary on Tuesday, Senator Pia Cayetano asked, “In this time of COVID, is that the best use of ₱150 million?”
“I’m asking his honor to reconsider what we can do with ₱150 million in this time of COVID. Vaccinations, safety protocols to allow children to go schools, ayuda (aid),” she said.
“Yes, I love the athletes… but I’d like that ₱150 million to be put to good use,” added Cayetano, who is herself a triathlete.
She pointed out that the amount is even bigger than the entire budget of the Games and Amusement Board, which regulates and supervises professional sports, including boxing.
Pacquiao said the regulatory body already handles “too many sports,” while a dangerous sport like boxing needs a commission that would focus on it.
When pressed on whether GAB has failed to fulfill its mandate, the boxer-turned-senator lamented that many of his fellow boxers retired without getting any pension. Others died without getting any benefits, he said.
“Yang 150 (million pesos), approximately more or less, pag-establish pa lang ng opisina. But after that, pagkatapos maestablish, hindi naman ganoong kalaki,” Pacquiao said.
[Translation: The P150 million, approximately more or less, will be used to establish an office alone. But after that, it would not need that much funding.]
Cayetano suggested augmenting GAB’s budget to address Pacquiao’s concerns instead of creating a commission that could possibly duplicate its functions.
Under Senate Bill No. 2077, the commission would support the growth of boxing and other contact sports, encourage the discovery and training of “world-class” boxers and combatants and enhance their welfare, and promote the country as an international or regional center for these sports.
After more than an hour of debate, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri moved to suspend the consideration of the proposed measure to give Pacquiao more time to formulate his answers to Cayetano’s queries.
“Round 2 bukas (tomorrow),” Zubiri said in jest.
