Pacquiao volunteers to fund boxing commission

After days of debating on the Philippine Boxing Commission (PBC) bill, Senator and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he will fund the establishment of  officers for the boxing commission due to the government's budget limitations amid the pandemic.

In the interpellation period, Senator Pia Cayetano suggested to amend the regulatory powers of Games and Amusement Board (GAB) to uplift the welfare of boxers instead of putting up new offices for boxing.

"Mr. President, would his honor be open to exploring at least during the  time of pandemic, the option of amending the powers of GAB to address some concerns he mentioned, specifically the welfare of boxers na hindi naasikaso. Why not amend GAB instead of creating a P100 million agency?" Cayetano asked Pacquiao, sponsor of the boxing commission measure.

But Pacquiao was not open to the proposal, reiterating his argument that GAB has different functions from the boxing commission.

"Na-approve na ito (bill) last Congress at wala po kayo (Cayetano). The function of GAB is different function from the PBC magkakaiba po, like I said in-explain ko na function, GAB is only regulatory and supervising, giving license, but the function of the commission that I proposed in this measure is to look and help the welfare of athletes hanggang sa pagretiro nila," said Pacquiao.

Citing that he has been in the boxing industry for 25 years, Pacquiao also highlighted that most of his retired colleagues were asking for financial aid despite giving pride to the country through boxing.

"The mission of this commission is to look for their welfare. Naalagaan sila hanggang sa pagtanda nila na may nakatutok na commission," he pointed out.

Timing in pandemic

Pacquiao also defended the bill further, citing that it was already passed in the 17th Congress, wherein Cayetano was not a senator during that time.

"Ito hindi tiniming sa pandemya. Itong bill na ito bago pa magpandemya," Pacquiao said.

However, Cayetano took issue with this argument, citing that lawmakers must adjust provisions to respond to the current needs of the public.

"It is our duty as lawmakers to be the one to adjust.  If we give the reason that e dati pa to, di pa pandemic noon, then we are not being responsive to the needs of the people," the senator said.

She further pointed out that the funding will only be for creation of boxing commission offices and not go directly to the athletes.

"I do not understand there has to be a new office when GAB has regional offices. Hindi niyo naipaliwanag ang hindi nagagawa ng GAB," she said.

Private funds

Pacquiao, who previously set P100 million to P150 million funding for PBC offices, suggested that they "open the budget for the measure."

"I'm sure pwede na siguro yan P1 million, P2 million wala pong problema diyan as long as na-establish itong Philippine Boxing Commission. The main concern is the budget e I have no question with that pwedeng P100,000 or P200,000," Pacquiao said.

On the other hand, Cayetano suggested that the boxing commission should be funded by themselves instead because putting up three offices for PBC using P200,000 funds may not be possible.

"Kasi kung P200,000 lang yan, between myself and his honor pwede tayo magdonate na lang para  private fund na lang boxing, wag na gawing public, like I said boxing commissions are private in many countries. I don't know how you will put up offices in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao which you put on record with 200,000," Cayetano said

"So baka ipasa natin yan tapos sabihin ng mga tao o nasan na yung pinangako ninyong may opisina? Saan na yung welfare fund?" she added.

With this, Pacquiao said he will leave it up to the Department of Budget and Management to put up funds, adding that he will cough up from his own money just to build the boxing commission offices in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

"Para matapos na, i-open na lang natin, bahala na ang DBM, kung P100,000, P500,000 'di lalagyan ng budget requirements. Ngayon, pinasa binigyan ng P100,000 ng DBM, e di magstart ng Philippine Boxing Commission, sa abot ng aking makakaya, sarili kong pera, para makatulong gastusin ko pera ko magtayo sa Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao para magkaroon ng opisina ang ating Philippine Boxing Commission,"he said.

Subsequently, Cayetano welcomed the idea: "Maganda ho yang idea na brining up ninyo na private funding and like I said, sasamahan ko po kayo.  Mangulekta ho tayo sa mga kaibigan natin, pare pareho niyo naman fans yan."

"So, to end, I support that move for a privately funded commission," she added.

Cayetano, however, said the bill cannot be passed without "clear direction on the funding because it would end up to be an unfunded bill" since the DBM is not clear on the functions of the PBC.

She further suggested that the bill could be revisited after the pandemic because the GAB is currently performing its job. -- BAP, GMA News