GAB chief to see more local sporting events next year – Manila Bulletin

With the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, the Chairman of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Baham Mitra has expressed optimism that other sporting events are resuming in the country. by next year.

Mitra said the continued immunization of Filipinos is a good sign for the return of sporting events.

“We want sport to resume, we are thinking about the livelihoods of professional athletes,” Mitra said during her appearance Tuesday in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum online session.

“The future is going to be brighter, ang dami nang bakunado and ang dami pang mababakunahan. In a year from now mas maganda na ang (situation) but let’s not forget na maski bakunado, let’s not let our guard down.

The Mitra-run agency – GAB – is the licensing authority that sanctions professional sports, which includes the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the PFL Country Football League, the Premier Volleyball League, and the Pilipinas 3 × 3, to name a few.

The resumption of these pro leagues, as well as various local fights for professional boxers since last year, have provided athletes with a source of income despite the health crisis.

Mitra said this would be the focal point of the discussion at the third edition of the Professional Sports Summit’s GAB – an online program scheduled for Wednesday, September 29 to be honored by officials and athletes from different sports and leagues.

“The highlight will be the sharing of information, the experiences of the different leagues, on how to deal with the pandemic, the precautionary measures of bawat isa, the health protocols, the challenges and all the things they have. made to overcome, ”says Mitra.

“Learning is very valuable. Mahirap kasi yan and magastos yan (organizing the bubble tournament). ”

Mitra said this was his last sporting summit as he would step down next year with the intention of resuming his public service career in his home province of Palawan as he was previously governor and Congressman from the Second District.