BY WAYLON GALVEZ
After boxing, mixed martial arts and Muay Thai, Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Chairman Baham Mitra is also praying and hoping they can also help the flight of golfers and teaching pros as they are also badly affected after the government implemented the Enhanced Committee Quarantine (ECQ) due to coronavirus pandemic.
Mitra said he has already asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to include a combined 51 GAB-licensed players and coaches in the list that it will receive financial assistance since all gold courses have been shut down.
“We have 47 teaching pros and four touring pros who requested for assistance,” Mitra said on Thursday. “We’ve already requested the DSWD to include them in the program.”
The 47 teaching pros are from the Philippine Army Golf Club (21) and the Philippine Navy Golf Club (26), while the four pro golfers are are Jhonnel Ababa, Jeffrey Pito-On, Rico Depilo and Marvin Dumandan.
“That’s what we have so far on our list asking for support,” said Mitra.
The office of Mitra initially got an approval for selected pro boxers, as well as fighters from the Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai categories to receive support from DSWD.
Under the agency’s program — Assistance to Individuals during Crisis Situation or AICS — those who seek help could get P5,000 cash assistance and P1,000 worth of gift card for groceries.
Mitra, however, said DSWD will still have to review the status of these golfers and instructors if they are qualified to get assistance or not.
Former jungolfer Oliver Gan, recently appointed as GAB’s consultant for golf, mentioned that such help will go a long way for the teaching pros and golfers since they have no other source of income.
“We understand their situation because teaching pros only get their money from fees, or tips every time they help somebody. With golf courses still closed, they have no source of income,” said Gan, a former Philippine Sports Commission program coordinator for NCR in the Philippine Sports Institute.
“As for the touring pros, it’s also the same, because these pro golfers get their resources during tournaments – depending on what place they finish. Now that events are postponed, it’s also a problem for them.”
“That’s why it’s a big help if the DSWD includes them on the GAB list for the assistance,” added Gan, who also made personal donations not only to pro golfers and teaching pros but also to frontliners.