SOME 150 officials of around 50 local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao on Thursday, March 16, passed a Manifesto of Support to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) that also requests the office of President Rodrigo Duterte to intercede on behalf of the national sports agency for the release of its five percent share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation's (Pagcor’s) gross income pursuant to Section 26 of Republic Act 6847.
The PSC has currently been receiving 2.5 percent of the five percent it should be claiming from Pagcor.
The manifesto of support was jointly proposed by Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon and Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista, who were among the seven city and municipal mayors present during the PSC Directional Meeting with LGUs on the Reactivation of Executive Order (EO) 63 (Creating the National, Regional, Provincial, City, Municipal and Barangay Physical Fitness and Sports Development Councils) and EO 64 on the adoption of the National Policy and Program of “Sports for All,” both issued on March 1, 1993.
Rellon, executive vice-president for League of Cities of the Philippines, also proposed for the group to request the Department of Interior and Local Government to include sports development as another criterion for its Seal of Good Governance program to enjoin LGUs in promoting sports development in their respective communities.
He added the five percent should be released for grassroots sports development be felt in all corners of the country.
“LGUs, through the special education fund, should not just spend for athletes joining regional meets and the Palarong Pambansa, giving them good uniforms, food and cash incentives since we are not only after medals. We also want to focus on the sports development in the communities,” Rellon said, adding that he will also propose to the Leagues of Cities and Municipalities to endorse a similar recommendation to help hasten the release of PSC's Pagcor funds.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez, in a media interview, said, “The manifesto of support, what the mayors are trying to do is very positive for us. Our commitment is there but with lack of funds we could not bring the trained coaches to hold sports programs in all areas of Mindanao that seek community-based sports development programs.”
PSC Commissioners Charles Raymond Maxey and Ramon Fernandez were also present during the meeting that allowed attendees to air their various concerns from funding constraints and lack of trained coaches and athletes, among others.
Maxey, for his part, assured PSC will visit far-flung areas like Lamitan and Isabela in Basilan, Sindangan in Zamboanga City, Kidapawan City of North Cotabato, and San Francisco in Agusan del Sur, among Mindanao cities and provinces to conduct sports programs and coaches' education.
“Just send us your request and we will be there,” Maxey said, addressing Mayor Evangelista's concerns.
Ramirez, however, cautioned with limited funding they can only do so much.
Thus, he urged LGUs to instead hold consultative meetings and trainings per province or cities to maximize whatever PSC programs they can avail of.
Fernandez, meanwhile, suggested LGUs instead shift on prioritizing at least five focus sports and capitalize on whatever resources they have.
He added, “Wag na ang basketball (We shouldn’t on the basketball). SBP already has a very good grassroots basketball program. MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) and his group will take care of it. Yung mga sports na may iba-ibang weight categories, yan ang magandang tutukan (We should focus on the other sports which has different weight categories),”
Sindangan Mayor Nilo Florentino Zapatos Sy lauded the consultation meeting, saying that PSC was unheard of in their place for a long time.
“Nakalimtan naman mi (We were forgotten),” Sy said during the open forum but was glad that he came to also hear what PSC's direction and programs are.
The directional meeting was the second stop of the PSC Caravan since it had its Visayas leg last Tuesday, March 14.
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