IT'S a good thing Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has turned his attention to the practice of allowing minors to train and engage in boxing, there's now a big chance that the tender bodies of these very young athletes can be protected from being prematurely exposed to the hazards of this admittedly dangerous form of sports.
In his Sunday television talk show "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa," the mayor bared his stand on the matter particularly against allowing children below 16 years old from engaging in boxing. It was clear he wanted this practice banned in the city.
The subject came up when a group of boxers regularly training at the Almendras Gym compound requested the Duterte administration to provide lighting outside the gym since trainings are done at night.
Duterte said training boxers at a tender age is detrimental to the welfare of the minors considering the physical rigors they will undergo especially during a bout.
"It's not good for a child to always be hit in the head. You are contributing a lot of problem. Stop it," Duterte was quoted as saying.
Duterte's stand is a big boost to a pending proposed ordinance precisely seeking to regulate the entry of minors in boxing.
Committee on youth and sports development chaired by Councilor April Marie Dayap had starting conducting public hearings on the proposal.
The measure was originally proposed by Councilor Karlo S. Bello who wants to ensure the safety of young boxers during training or while inside the ring.
Bello said there is a need to eliminate, lessen or prevent hazards, injuries and harmful effects of boxing while encouraging and developing their noble intention in promoting such sport.
The initial draft of the ordinance includes provisions that require trainers, coaches, owners of boxing clinics or gyms to provide the necessary safety or protective gear, vest or paraphernalia within their clinics or gyms to be utilized by their students who are minors.
The mayor's desire to ban entry of minors below 16 will dovetail with Bello's proposal to regulate the sport in the city.
Another councilor, Edgar Ibuyan, can help in developing a desirable ordinance, considering that he himself is involved in managing boxing activities being president of the amateur boxing association in the city.
