GAB WANTS FREE CT SCAN FOR BOXERS WITH DOH

GAB Chairman Baham Mitra (upper photo) talks to the stakeholders of professional boxing in Mindanao during a dialogue held in Davao City last March 21. (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)

THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB) is now requesting President Rodrigo Duterte to provide free brain scanning services for professional boxers through the Department of Health.

“We are already setting an appointment with the DOH to discuss this initiative. Hopefully we can achieve this because this would be a big help for our boxers,” said GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra during his dialogue with the stakeholders of boxing in Mindanao held in Davao City.

Mitra reiterated this in his speech during the 17th Gabriel Elorde Memorial Awards held March 25 at the Manila Hotel.

Usually a computed tomography (CT) scan is required by the GAB for the boxers before their fight. A manager pays P5,000 or less for every CT scan in a hospital.

GAB, however, is also thinking of requiring the managers to give all their boxers an annual MRI, which is worth three times than the CT scan.

After Mitra took over as Chairman, GAB now has made a lot of innovations based on its consultations from around the country.

This year, GAB has started the adoption of a new GAB License Renewal System based on Birthdate, to make it simpler and easier for license holders to renew their licenses.

“Since this would just require them to have in mind their date of birth when renewing license,” said Mitra.

Boxing bouts are now being video-recorded by GAB personnel to ensure that review and decision over complaints filed before the GAB regarding a particular fight incident are properly rendered.

“At the same time, the video is used by GAB to monitor and evaluate the performance of ring officials assigned during the event,” said Mitra.

GAB also conducted dialogues with probable sponsors to help the promoters in the staging of boxing promotions, and insurance companies on the possibility of providing insurance to our professional boxers.

GAB is also finalizing the Revised Rules and Regulations Governing Professional Boxing in the Philippines and hopes to release it next month.

Among those covered by the revisions is the request of the promoters and managers to lower the mandatory rest period for the boxers, penalty for overweight boxers etc.

GAB now also has a website and a Facebook page so that it can easily inform the stakeholders of its programs and activities.

The GAB website and Facebook page are used for the posting of the Monthly Philippine Boxers’ Ratings (posted one day after the deliberation); the names of ring officials assigned to officiate in the boxing event including their previous assignments, to monitor and ensure that rotation of duties is properly observed; Schedule of Philippine Ratings and OPBF Ratings; Updates on the actual amount of Boxers’ Welfare Fund collected by GAB as well as its beneficiaries; Announcement of upcoming boxing promotions; Results of boxing bouts; and announcement of upcoming boxing promotions.

“We encourage the participation of our promoters, managers, trainers, etc. to attend the ratings and participate in the deliberation,” said Mitra.

He is also encouraging the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao professional boxing associations to be more active especially with their own ratings to chance for those boxers who are still not included in the GAB monthly ratings.

GAB has already stopped collecting 1% from the boxer’s purse since March in compliance with the recommendation of the Department of Budget and Management.

“The amount previously collected still remains intact with the Bureau of the Treasury and the amount can still be used as financial assistance for our injured boxers, and grant of financial assistance will continue until such time that all amount has been released and the fund becomes empty,” explained Mitra.

Mitra is also encouraging everyone to make suggestions or share their ideas that would help GAB improve its services.

“I believe that improvement is a continual process and if you have any idea in mind, please don’t hesitate to contact or write us. We are more than willing to accommodate your suggestions. We consider you as our partner/s and we value your suggestions,” said Mitra.

GAB is also inviting all stakeholders to attend the 3rd GAB Philippine Boxing Convention in Davao City on May 11-13.

“Good news is that, because we are privileged enough to be given the necessary budget for this event by our friends in Congress. No registration fee will be charged,” said Mitra.