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DSWD approves GAB request for financial help to licensees

By Nick Giongco The financial request the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) submitted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for licensed fighters and trainers of boxing, Muay Thai and mix martial arts have been “approved in principle.”

Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Baham Mitra

GAB chairman Baham Mitra told the Manila Bulletin on Friday night that DSWD Undersecretary Aimee Neri called him to relay the news that all 1,133 licensees would receive cash from the government owing to the pandemic.

The government is releasing P270-billion for low-income earners and Mitra said in a letter to the DSWD that the boxers, Muay Thai and MMA practitioners fall under this category.

The DSWD has also forwarded to the GAB a bar code that will formalize the approval of financial help not only to the fighters but to their trainers and seconds as well.

The amount would depend on the region where a licensee belongs. The government says the assistance will range from a minimum of P5,000 to a high of P8,000.

Those from Metro Manila will receive P8,000 while those who reside in a region with lower standard of living will get P5,000.

The lack of activity has been difficult for the boxers’ handlers to fund them, especially since it could not be determined until when the lockdown and work stoppage will be enforced.

Manila-based boxing managers Joven Jimenez and Art Monis and Brix Flores of Cebu and top trainer Edito Villamor had earlier welcomed GAB’s move.

Mitra said the DSWD will task GAB to handle the registration of the recipients.

“We are just doing minor revisions, then we will receive the forms that will filled up by our boxers and other licensees,” added Mitra.

Tags: Baham Mitra , coronavirus , COVID-19 , GAB , Games and Board Amusement , nCov , novel coronavirus