GAB CONDUCTS SEMINAR/DIALOUGE IN CEBU (PHOTOS)
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 Feb 2018
Mitra speaks in Cebu.
CEBU ? The Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the Philippines' regulatory body for professional sports under the leadership of its dynamic chairman Abraham Khalil Mitra, conducted a seminar and dialogue at the Holiday Inn here Tuesday afternoon with boxing promoters, managers and boxers in a continuing push to improve the country's boxing industry with emphasis on the boxer's safety.
?We come here for you,? Mitra, who came in full force with his GAB staff from Manila, told the close to a hundred participants. ?We come here to tell you your legal rights as a boxer or as manager. This is not a one way street. We want to hear from you. We want to listen to your problems so we will know how we can improve in running things.?
Mitra said that many of the changes that the agency had been implemented so far were the result of the previous dialogues that the agency conducted all over the country.
GAB Commissioner Eduard Trinidad.
Among the speakers were GAB commissioner Eduard Trinidad who tabbed the afternoon snacks as it was his birthday, GAB legal council Atty Ermar Benitez, medical head Dr Redentor Viernes and boxing division officer Tony Comia.
Among the topics that were discussed was the landmark free medical checkup for boxers that the GAB and the Department of Health (DOH) had agreed. Cebu based boxers can now avail of the free medical checkup thru the government owned Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City and for Bohol-based boxers, at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City.
GAB legal chief Atty. Ermar Benitez.
Atty Benitez discussed the requirements for boxers in order for them to be allowed to travel to fight abroad in 6-rounder and 8-rounder fights. Benitez said boxers should have won at least two of their last five fights and one of the last three to be allowed to travel. The 45-day mandatory rest period for boxers also stays in effect. Benitez also touched on the rights of boxers and managers and if a boxer or manager feels there is a legal problem, Benitez advised them to get in touch with the GAB legal division to try to settle the case there before going to court.
GAB boxing official Tony Comia.
GAB boxing officer Tony Comia discussed how boxers are ranked in the Philippine ranking. In this regard Mitra thanked the regional boxing officials organizations for coming up with their own regional rankings as these will form part of the bases where GAB comes up with the national ranking of boxers.
GAB medical chief Dr Rendentor Viernes.
Dr Viernes discussed, aside from the free medical checkup for boxers, the importance of proper weight loss for boxers and discussed the dangers of losing weight by artificial means like taking laxative and the like. Viernes also asked for consensus among the participants if the GAB office were to implement and standardized dentist-fitted mouthguard for boxers.
Also being discussed was GAB's plan to inspect boxing gyms all over the country and eventually issue accreditation for qualified boxing gym. A trainer's and boxer's log book will be required so GAB could actually check the boxer's historical training.
Boxer Arthur Villanueva and trainer Michael Domingo speak during the open forum.
After the speakers, a lively open forum followed were boxers and boxing officials took turn to ask questions or voiced their concerns and opinions.
Boxing judge Edward Ligas speaks.
GAB chairman Abraham Mitra (C) poses with GAB officers after the completion of the half-day seminar/dialogue.
Mitra also emphasized the importance of using today's Internet social media platform as a means to be updated of new information coming out of GAB and also as a means for instant communication. ?We want to be as transparent as possible. Some of our meetings, like the ratings meetings, we put it up live on our Facebook page so you can actually go to there and view our meetings.?
Mitra also informed that the annual budget allocation of the agency has significantly increased from P80 million to P147 million and they can now do more projects for the betterment of Philippine boxing including a possible hosting of major boxing convention.
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