Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (L) and Brendon Rios of the US pose for photographers during a pre-fight press conference in Macau on July 27, 2013. The pair will fight in a welterweight bout in Macau on November 24. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is “considering” holding free public viewing of the upcoming Pacquiao-Rios bout to those affected by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international codename: Haiyan).
NDRRMC executive director Eduardo Del Rosario said this would be “a great help” in uplifting the spirits of the victims when they see the Filipino boxing hero win his fight for his countrymen.
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s welterweight bout versus American boxer Brandon Rios will be aired Sunday in Manila.
The NDRRMC chairman said that Pacquiao brought “inspiration and hope” to Filipinos going through life’s hardships.
Del Rosario said they were hoping that Pacquiao who, like the typhoon victims have experienced a series of setbacks in his boxing career, would recover.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will call off its traditional free pay-per-view showing of Pacquiao’s fights to policemen, said Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP spokesperson.
Usually sponsored by PNP’s non-profit fund association Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc. (PSMBFI), Sindac said this was to prioritize the continuity of their relief efforts.
Instead of spending for the logistics and pay-per-view fees, the PSMBFI will donate the budget to the calamity victims.
In previous Pacquiao fights, PNP opens its multi-purpose hall in Camp Crame to all PNP officers, staff and their relatives for the free live showing. The hall, which has a 3,000-seating capacity, is filled whenever PNP holds the event.
In the official website of PSMBFI, the activity is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programs and “a way of thanking members for their continuous trust and support.”
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