Noting that local boxers have always brought acclaim to the country, Senator Lito Lapid has filed a bill that would establish the Philippine Boxing Academy or the Philbaca. Senate Bill 2508 or the Boxing Academy Act of 2010 seeks to create the Philbaca which is expected to recruit, train, and assist talented boxers and other boxing personnel. "Given the continuing patronage and desire of more young athletes to get into boxing, the government should provide the necessary support to our aspiring boxers by teaching them the proper fundamentals and providing them with scientific boxing training programs," Lapid said in his bill. A former movie actor, Lapid is the chairman of the Senate committe on games, amusement, and sports. SB 2508 says that to be eligible for admission to the Philbaca, the candidate must be:
at least 12 but not more than 35 years old; a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; in possession of the skills and talent of "a potential world caliber athlete" as determined by the board; and able to pass the physical and psychological examinations and other standards and qualifications that may be set by the board. The proposed measure likewise states that a boxing road show in the form of a tournament shall be conducted yearly in various provinces to help identify local potential talents who may be recruited as scholars to the academy. The bill says that a monthly stipend, to be determined by the Office of the President upon the recommendation of the academy's board, and living quarters shall be extended to all student-scholars during the duration of their stay at Philbaca. The bill also requires the Department of Education to include boxing fundamentals as an elective subject in the physical education curriculum of all public schools and state universities and colleges. It added that students may avail of the academic scholarship program in any public school and state university and college where Philbaca has an existing scholarship agreement with. SB 2508 says that the Philbaca shall be placed under the control of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and shall be headed by an academy director appointed by the GAB chairman. It says that P20 million shall be initially appropriated for the operations of the academy. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV 
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