PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed another Dabawenyo to move Philippine sports forward. Businessman Glenn Y. Escandor, also Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) regional director, was named Presidential Assistant (PA) for Sports but without renumeration.
Escandor, 47, said it is a great privilege to serve the country, hoping that he can help the President in his sports programs.
The president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Escandor Group of Companies, which owns the country's biggest security agency Davao Allied Security and Investigation Agency (Dasia), The Royal Mandaya Hotel, and Escandor Development Corporation whose maiden project is the Matina Enclaves, also served as sports consultant during Duterte's term as mayor of Davao City.
Escandor, in a text message to VoxPop Davao Sunday, said he will "focus on grassroots programs that will create positive learning environment for the youth".
Duterte reportedly appointed Escandor last August 30 but only received the appointment last week.
Escandor also said he will complement the president's agenda against drugs, saying sports is one good vehicle to combat it and keep the youth from its ills.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez welcomed Sunday Escandor's appointment, saying: "I'm happy to embrace his joining us with PA Dennis Uy. It is a big boost in RP sports and being from Davao."
The PSC chief was pertaining to Phoenix Petroleum president and CEO Dennis Uy who was appointed by President Duterte as Presidential Adviser on Sports last July. Uy's company owns the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA.
Just like Uy, Escandor has also been sponsoring youth basketball programs through the Mandaya Cup. The latter had also been a constant partner of the City Government of Davao every Araw ng Dabaw or Kadayawan sa Dabaw commercial basketball tournaments for several years, forming teams composed of PBA players or veterans and other known UAAP or NCAA varsity teams to give Dabawenyos exciting basketball action.
Last month, Escandor brought in UAAP champion Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws to represent his team that went on to defend the title.
With more well-meaning sports leaders from the private sector being given the President's trust, the PSC can now expect the help it needs to further advance its programs for elite athletes and grassroots sports considering that the much-anticipated Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) will kick off on October 1 and will be launched on January 1, 2017.
Aside from Ramirez, Escandor and Uy, PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey also hails from Davao City. All of them are presidential appointees.
