Lapid seeks pension fund for RP boxing champs

The World Boxing Council (WBC) may consider Rolando Navarrete as one of the best superfeatherweight champions in history, but to his townmates in General Santos City, he is just an ordinary fish vendor. In 1981, Navarrete snatched the WBC Super featherweight title from Ugandan boxer Cornelius Boza Edwards. However, troubles inside and outside the ring put an end to his once thriving boxing career. Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid seeks to end this cycle of Filipino boxing champions winding up in poverty and living in the shadow of their former greatness. Lapid initiated the Boxer Welfare, Insurance, and Pension Act of 2010 because “these stories are all too familiar and bespeak the need to eradicate this blemish on the sport of boxing." Under the bill, an “International Boxer Pension Fund" will award Filipino boxers who have won international boxing titles a monthly pension of P20,000 upon reaching the age of 45. Lapid proposes a P50 million fund to be administered by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB). Lapid says the GAB can also establish an alternative livelihood training program and referral system for retired and injured Filipino boxing champs. When a boxing champion dies, the senator says his legally surviving spouse may claim the monthly pension. Two of the boxer's children will also be granted a full scholarship grant and at any government-owned school, college, university, or institution. All other school fees will also be shouldered by the government. He says the GAB can create a databank and registry of all Filipino international boxing champions to identify the possible beneficiaries of the proposed law. Health insurance for other professional boxers Lapid is also seeking to create a compulsory health insurance for all Filipino professional boxers. He says all professional boxers will be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program of the government, allowing them to avail of adequate personal health service such as in-patient hospital care, out-patient care, and emergency services. Lapid says the Senate can shoulder the cost of the insurance for the boxers. "All professional boxers shall be automatically entitled to full enjoyment and and availment of essential health services," he says. When an international bout is held outside the country, Lapid says the promoter will be mandated to grant a fighter a comprehensive health insurance package. The promoter will shoulder the monthly insurance premiums and the government will subsidize 50 percent of the cost. –VVP, GMANews.TV