NEWLY elected Party-list Rep. Mikee L. Romero of One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals (1-Pacman) vowed to change the game in Philippine sports.
Romero discussed his plans in sports during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at Shakey’s Malate, specifically mentioning the need for new leaders in different sports agencies, organizations, and national sports association.
“I will call on our sports leaders to step down, move aside because your time has elapsed already,” Romero said. “Let the new breed of sports leaders and generation come in and try to change the path of Philippine sports.”
“Lumubog na tayo noong SEA [Southeast Asian] Games, lumubog na tayo n’ung Asian Games na halos wala na tayong medalya at kumbaga sa Olympics ngayon parang naging saling-pusa na lang tayo,” he added.
“Kung ganyan ‘yung mind-set ng ating sports leaders, siguro may malaki tayong problema, so with apologies and respect to our sports leaders, I’m calling on them to give way to a new breed of sports leaders pasensyahan na po tayo I’m just being frank.”
The Philippines finished sixth overall in the 2015 SEA Games, while it ended up 22nd in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Romero, owner of the GlobalPort team in the Philippine Basketball Association, has also long been advocating the creation Department of Sports that will provide stronger support to Filipino athletes.
“Kapag ka gumawa tayo ng Department of Sports, hindi na mamamalimos ang ating mga atleta, mayroon na silang sariling budget at kasama na sila sa plataporma every year,” Romero said.
“Itong PSC [Philippine Sports Commission] nagkakaproblema sila because 5 percent of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Philippine Charity Swseepstakes Office revenues supposedly diretso na ‘yan sa kaban ng PSC, pero hindi nangyayari, ‘yan ang sinasabi ni Commissioner Richie Garcia, only 2 percent ang napupunta sa kanila, kaya ‘yung budget constraint napakalaki.”
Romero knew it will take time before the Department of Sports will be established, but for now, he wants an immediate creation of a training center for the Filipino athletes.
“Rest assured na ‘yung programa kong Department of Sports, it might just take a little longer medyo tiis lang tayo pero ipu-push ko ‘yan and I think makukuha ko ‘yan,” he said. “’Yung infrastructure for me, that’s immediate ‘yan ang kailangan gawin natin ngayon.”
Romero is planning to build the infrastructure in Clark, Pampanga.
“Isa sa mga bills na gagawin ko is to transfer or create a training center and let’s get the best available Filipino trainers,” Romero said. “’Yung mga training facilities natin outdated na. We are using 30 years infrastructure for sports programs that need to progress.”
Romero plans to have a dialogue with the godfathers in sports and seeks their assistance to raise P1 billion for the new training centers and facilities.