Benefits for combat sports athletes pushed
CAMARINES Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte has called for the swift congressional approval of a bill that seeks to create a commission that will oversee, among others, the grant of welfare benefits and incentives to boxers, kickboxers and all other athletes engaged in combat sports.
In House Bill (HB) 9443, Villafuerte said the proposed Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission (PBCSC) will become the single agency to formulate, initiate, plan and implement a national policy for the growth of professional boxing and other combat sports in the country.
HB 9443 is now being consolidated with other similar bills by the joint technical working group (TWG) of the House committees on government reorganization and on games and amusements.
“The Commission will be tasked to provide and implement the necessary incentives and benefits long overdue to all professional boxers and combat sports athletes who have brought honor and prestige to our country,” Villafuerte said.
“For all the accolades that our boxers and combatant champions bring, it is high time that their welfare is prioritized,” he added.
Villafuerte said under his bill, all professional boxers and combat sports athletes shall be enrolled with the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or PAG-IBIG, and shall be entitled to all the benefits being offered by these state-run firms as provided under the law.
Boxers and other combat sports athletes will also be exempt from the payment of travel tax, airport tax and any other travel-related taxes or fees if they are to compete in international competitions, as provided under Villafuerte’s measure.
Retired and injured boxers or combat sports athletes will likewise be given alternative livelihood programs under Villafuerte’s bill.
Villafuerte said that in his proposal, combat sports refer to boxing; fist fighting in any of its styles, kickboxing in any of its styles; and any sport, martial art, or activity that involves, in accordance with the applicable regulation, striking, kicking, hitting, grappling, throwing and/or punching opponents.
The joint TWG is still waiting for comments from the Department of Budget and Management.
