Make shooting UAAP, NCAA event - Romero

MANILA, Philippines - Sports patron and Harbour CEO Mikee Romero announced that if given the opportunity to serve and lead the Philippine National Shooting Association he intends to further revitalize the association and make the sport a regular event in the UAAP and NCAA calendar.

“We need more young shooters and the only way to encourage students to take up the sport is to include it in the sports calendar of UAAP and NCAA,” said Romero who has the support of at least three aggrupations in the race for presidency following the resignation of two-time Olympian Art Macapagal.

“We also intend to stage more tournaments here and more foreign exposures for our shooters,” he said.

If elected, he will request the Department of Education to include shooting, particularly pistol and rifle, in its Physical Education (PE) curriculum in the UAAP and NCAA in order to discover and inspire young shooters.

Romero, who is also into basketball and baseball, is even willing to donate house guns and pellets to any school interested to adopt the shooting program the association is going to formulate.

The latest to throw their support are the pistol and rifle groups of multi-titled Tac Padilla who believe that Romero - with his resources and strong connection in the business sector - is the right guy to head the association.

Romero was elated with the support of the respected pistolero, saying his endorsement will have a significant weight to his candidacy.

The moving target aggrupation of James Chua had earlier indicated that it will support Romero all the way and its three representatives to the 15-man Board are willing to step down to give way for the nomination of the young executive.

He will also seek a stronger relationship with the Philippine Olympic Committee headed by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and Philippine Sports Commission chaired by Richie Garcia.

Romero, who is on a business trip in Europe, said: “I salute Mr. Macapagal and  the current board of PNSA’s leadership in running the pistol, rifle, shotgun,  

practical and non-ISSF member aggrupation in the country. They have accomplished  so much for the PNSA, if given a chance to serve the PNSA, all their current  programs would be continued and even expanded for that matter.”

“Concentration on the Youth shooters should be the primordial goal if ever I am  elected as the next PNSA president. Developing shooters in the high school and  collegiate levels is a must and expanding the base shooters to a pool of 100  youth shooters would be my first objective,” he added.

 “A La Salle versus Ateneo Shooting event or a San Beda against San Sebastian  would create nationwide awareness,” he said.

The Philippine National Youth Shooting Week, Romero added, will be a yearly event in all aggrupations to be held every June or July simultaneous with the Philippine National Open Week. 

Membership base of the PNSA should be expanded to even non-Olympic sports so as to promote shooting in the country.

The Philippine Practical Shooting Association, the Philippine Paintball Association, the Philippine Airsoft Pellet Association and others should all be affiliated with PNSA so as to have only one governing body for shooting in the country.