Government agencies, LGUs back PSC program

More than 300 sports and local government leaders gave their stamp of approval to the Philippine Sports Commission’s 2003 Programs, Projects and Activities, launched Tuesday at the Grand Boulevard Hotel.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain presented the agency’s program before representatives from Local Government Units, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Sports Associations and non-government organizations.

The approval by the PSC’s partners in sports development was viewed by sports leaders and government officials present as an overwhelming support to President Arroyo’s thrust for a Strong Republic, which Buhain said, incorporates sports as a vital part towards nation building.

Among Buhain’s priorities are projects aimed at grassroots sports development, which were emphasized by President Arroyo as an important vehicle in her Strong Republic campaign.

Buhain, himself, presented before the participants the Strategic Plan For Philippine Sports — a medium term approach aimed at placing sports in the mainstream of economic development planning and at institutionalizing the PSC’s sound programs and interventions.

Buhain, now on his second year as PSC chairman, said much of the programs left by past PSC chairmen Cecil Hechanova, Aparicio Mequi, Gemiliano Lopez, Philip Ella Juico and Carlos Tuason were revitalized and injected with new approach even as the PSC invoked its thrust to go fully nationwide in its programs.

Buhain also announced the holding of the First Philippine National Championships, the culminating event for the First Luzon and Visayas Games and the Third Mindanao Friendship Games.

Despite the budget cut, programs such as the Philippine National Youth Games ˆ Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa will not be displaced, according to Buhain.

Commissioners William Ramirez, Michael Barredo, Ambrosio de Luna and Leon Montemayor also actively participated in the formulation of the programs and were tasked to help oversee the implementation of the 2003 Programs, Projects and Activities nationwide.

The participants also inked their names as the first batch of PSC partners in sports development, boosting the list of agency‚s corporate backers, which were all recognized and were awarded commemorative glass plaques designed by Reggie Padua.

"Now, we have our own Œsports soldiers‚ who will make sure our programs reach even the farthest places we tend to overlook in the past," Buhain said. "As much as possible, we would like to reach the farthest barrio. There should be no boundary in sports."

Ariel Paredes, head of PSC National Programs Secretariat, formally closed the activities yesterday, receiving pledges of support from city and municipal sports leaders, regional sports coordinators, representatives from government agencies and members of the academe.