PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez bared Saturday, September 10, that the agency's genuine grassroots sports program will officially start on October 1 with the launch of the first-ever Philippine Sports Institute (PSI).
Ramirez, in a media briefing over lunch at Barbecue Boss, Quirino Avenue in Davao City Saturday, said, "Sa October 1, maka-claim naming aduna nay grassroots sports program kaysa tinuod lang lip service rajud nang ginaingon nga grassroots program sa PSC kaniadto. Sa DepEd dunay gamay tungod sa Palaro pero sa mga schools jud pirmi, sa LGUs halos events ra (We can then claim on Oct. 1 that we have a grassroots sports program as it was just lip service for the longest time. The Department of Education has its own through the Palarong Pambansa but it's the schools that usually have the programs while local government units (LGUs) usually have events)."
Ramirez said he was elated by the overwhelming support of some members of the Lower House of Representatives and the Senate, saying that the solons' involvement is a welcome boost for the change that President Rodrigo Duterte wants to happen in Philippine sports.
He added that governors and mayors have also been seeking collaboration with PSC in also uplifting sports in their respective provinces, cities and municipalities.
The PSI, the PSC chief said, won't be successful without the collaboration with stakeholders like the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), LGUs, national government agencies, Congress, Senate, private companies, the academe and the media.
He is eyeing to sign memorandum of agreements (MOAs) with partner LGUs in putting up PSI satellite offices in some 20 areas in the country including Zamboanga City, Davao City, Cebu City, Baguio City, Tawi-Tawi, Bacolod City, Romblon and Batanes, among others.
Weightlifting, boxing, archery, diving, swimming and track and field, were among the focus sports he bared.
"Mausab na jud ang Philippine sports (The country's sports will change)," Ramirez assured.
A Top Level Consultative Meeting on Development Plan for Philippine Sports and Set-Up of PSI was held last week at Century Park Hotel in Manila. It was attended by lawmakers including Senator Manny Pacquiao, officers of different national sports associations (NSAs), POC and DepEd and different private schools associations in the country and the media.
PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey, for his part, said a second consultative meeting will be held on September 22 and 23 at the Philsports Arena.
"We will present to participants what transpired during the Top Level consultative meeting," Maxey said.
