CEBU, Philippines - Hopeless with the current state of national sports program, Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV is pushing for the creation of a Department of Sports to reform the administration of sports development in the country.
"It is hard for us to attain the status as sports powerhouse because there are untouchable crooks in Philippine sports. Unless we get rid of them, it is impossible for us to fix the current mess in our country's sports development," said Trillanes.
"Under the existing law, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is tasked as the lead agency for sports promotion and development. However, it cannot perform its mandate because it is being controlled and dictated by the Philippine Olympic Committee, which does nothing but to favor its allied National Sports Associations," Trillanes explained.
Trillanes added that Senate Bill No. 649, or the Department of Sports Act, will hopefully resolve the current problem in the system and give importance to sports development in the country by creating an agency which will replace the PSC.
The Department of Sports, being a cabinet level agency, will be given bigger power and enough resources to support sports development in the country.
Under measure, the Department of Sports shall provide the much needed leadership in sports development in the Philippines. It shall provide necessary impetus, direction, and policy guidance in order to improve the performance of the country in international sporting events and competitions. Said agency shall, likewise, take the lead in developing Filipino athletes to their fullest potentials.
"With this bill, we can cut the umbilical cord with POC, making the latter irrelevant. The Department of Sports can now regulate the sports development in the country, without being influenced by POC," noted Trillanes.
Trillanes has been an advocate of sports development in the country. Aside from bringing honor to the country, he believes that sports is relevant in youth development, and active and disciplined citizenry. (Senate PR) (FREEMAN)