FILE – PBA commissioner Willie Marcial during the opening of the league’s 45th season Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — With the country and the rest of the world still grappling with the deadly coronavirus disease, the Philippine Senate recently consulted with notable individuals on how it can help ease the burden that has been put heavily on the private sector.
One of those individuals in the hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Committee chair senator Sonny Angara headed the hearing and asked members of the private sector on how the government can help through the Bayanihan Act, which the Senate is planning to expand.
Apart from asking for input, Angara also offered to help the corporations that have been affected after COVID-19 put the Philippines in lockdown but Marcial instead told the legislator to help those who need it more.
“Sinabi ko lang na nagpapasalamat kami and thank you for having us here in the hearing,” said Marcial in a phone conversation Sunday. “Sinabi ko na kami sa PBA nakakaraos at kung may pondong nakalaan ay mas gusto naming ibigay sa mas nangangailangan kagaya ng mga atletang Pilipino.”
(I told them that we thank them for having us in the hearing. I said that the PBA has more than enough and if there’s any funds that are designated for this then we’d appreciate it more if they’d give it to those who need it the most like the Filipino athletes.)
Marcial said that the Senate is planning to expand the Bayanihan Act, which is officially designated as Republic Act No. 11469, and the expansion would allow the government to appropriate more funds to the private sector.
The PBA, however, has continued to support the relief efforts and the battle against COVID-19 despite the league being in hiatus since March.
PBA teams have poured in donations while numerous players also used their own money to help in the campaign with the likes of San Miguel guard Terrence Romeo donating personal protective equipment and food to several hospitals and communities.
“We didn’t ask for help and they too didn’t ask from us,” said Marcial. “Kami sa PBA patuloy na tumutulong sa mga front-liners, mga coaches, players, governors, at owners patuloy na tumutulong.”
(The PBA continues to help the front-liners. And our coaches, players, governors, and owners haven’t stopped helping.)
Marcial said representatives from different sectors, including agriculture and entertainment, were also present in the hearing that was done through video conference with a dozen or so senators present.
“Moving forward, we will determine what must be done to help them minimize their losses and preserve the jobs of their employees now that they will have to operate under a drastically different environment that we are calling the new normal,” said Angara.