PHILIPPINES Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez called for unity within the national sports associations (NSAs) and its partners, as instructed by President Duterte, suggesting that “real progress” should be accomplished with collaborative efforts of several stakeholders to put the country at par with its neighbors.
After the announcement of the long-delayed appointment papers from Malacañang of the four commissioners—Celia Kiram, Charles Maxey, Ramon Fernandez and Arnold Agustin—late last week, Ramirez said the PSC is mandated to “unify, lead and coordinate the Philippine sport” under the Republic Act 6847, which created the commission in 1990.
In relation to this, the top sports official added that he is requesting the NSAs and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to deal with their problems and act a “unified body” to fully address the challenges being faced by the athletes right now.
“The President has instructed me upon assumption of office to unify Philippine sports. I plan to visit the leadership of the POC to set their directions into one organization,” Ramirez said.
The POC, a non-governmental organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee, is the mother organization of all NSAs.
Its member sports associations receive financial support from the PSC, but the POC has the authority and supervision of the country’s delegation for the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.
To sustain the achievement of Rio Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and continue its mandate of producing world-class athletes that will represent the country, the comebacking PSC chairman will create the position of national sports training director to duly monitor the money allocated for each association.
“After 26 years of funding, where are we now? Have we matured? What’s the condition of the athletes and the coaches? Are we really prepared?” said Ramirez, who already served the post from 2005 to 2009.
Ramirez bared that they will immediately put up a master plan of its activities and agenda because of the overdue assumption of office of the four commissioners.