PHILIPPINE boxing is knocking on the door of its beloved son, Manny Pacquiao.
Filipino boxers and trainers, through the Philippine Boxing Promoters and Managers Association, are appealing for help due to the enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an open letter to Pacquiao, PBPMA president Dante Almario said the boxing community was also terribly affected by the worldwide pandemic
“Alam po namin na patuloy ang walang katapusang pagtulong nyo sa ating mga mamayan, lalo na sa mga biktima ng COVID-19 pandemic,” Almario said in the statement.
“Lubos na na-pektuhan ang ating mga boxers, trainers at matchmakers dahil sa crisis na ito. Itinuturing na malaki ang naging pinsalang financial sa ating mga kasama sa boxing, dahil bago mag total lockdown, marami sa kanila ang may schedule na laban hindi lang dito sa ating bansa kundi maging sa ibang bansa na na-kansel o na-postponed ng walang katiyakan kung kailan matutuloy.”
“Halos lahat po kanila ay may pamilya na umaasa sa kanilang pagiging boksingero. Kung walang laban, walang premyo at pera.”
Almario said the PBPMA is now trying to raise fund to help these boxers, teainers and matchmakers to help them cope with the effects of the pandemic
“Sa kasalukuyan, ang PBPMA ay may nalilikom na P64,650 at ito po ay aming ipapamahagi kapag nadag-dagan pa ang aming malilikom.:
“Alam po namin na sobra-sobra ang inyong malasakit sa ating mga boxer na tulad nyo kaya po kami ay naglakas ng loob na lumalapit sa inyo upang humingi ng karagdagang tulong finacial para ating mga naghihirap na mga kapatid sa boxing.”
A source close to Pacquiao said the boxing champion-turned-Senator is now studying ways on how to help the boxing community.
Earlier, the boxing community received a much-needed shot in the arm after the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, took the initiative in seeking help from both the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
GAB has already submitted a list of 1,133 licensed professional boxers, trainers and matchmakers who are entitled to receive financial assistance under the government’s social amelioration program.
“The P5,000-P8,000 social amelioration program will help them survive these hard times in our nation’s history,” said Mitra in his letter.
Mitra said the iniative is in accordance with the recently passed law, Republic Act No. 11479, or the Bayanihan To Heal as One Act, which seeks to address the impact of the COVID-19 in the country.
