But there was a different air, one of hope and possibility, at the opening of the ?Top-Level Consultative Meeting in Development Plan for Philippine Sports and Set-Up of Philippine Sports Institute?. This was reinforced by a show of force from the House of Representatives. Many of those who attended the meeting are first-timers in Congress, an unprecedented team effort from enthusiastic sportsmen who are also public servants. What was even more exciting was seeing them discussing animatedly and taking notes during all the speeches in the morning session Thursday at the Century Park Hotel.
No less than 10 representatives attended the morning session, with Sen. Manny Pacquiao likewise speaking in the afternoon. Three of them spoke very eloquently on the need for unity and their plan to push the passing of the new Department of Sports Law. Each spoke of his experience as a sportsman, and their cumulative frustration with regards to the national sports programs and lack of continuity of successful sports programs funded by government. They also shared their determination to make a difference, which met with a lot of approval from the participants of the conference.
?We have seen how other countries succeed,? opened Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez. ?If we love our country, we will do what it takes for every Filipino to have access to sports. We are building up the grassroots development program, so that we will have a healthy, vibrant, productive citizenry. With integrity and honesty, there is no reason we cannot succeed, as well.?
First-time Rep. Mikee Romero, former president of the Philippine National Shooting Association, talked about the efforts to evaluate the infrastructure of sports throughout the country, boost the nationwide development of athletes, and identify the national athletes of the future. But he also emphasized the need for a clear financial plan, to answer how and where funds for sports development will be sourced. One of the programs he vowed to support was the retirement benefit for former national athletes and international medalists. A sportsman and a PBA team owner, Romero spoke passionately about his varied personal experience in many sports. ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads
?Where are we now? Where do we plan to go?? Romero asked. ?We want to help. Come to us in Congress. Tell us what we need to do.? Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Rep. Mark Sambar, vice-chairman of youth and sports development in the House, listed all the new measures filed by the new sportsmen in Congress, and reiterated the invitation for all sports stakeholders to work together. Sambar pointed out that it has been a very long time since any legislature made a difference in sports since the establishment of the PSC in 1990.
Meanwhile, the House committee chair of youth and sports, Conrad Estrella, reviewed the history of the creation of the Philippine Sports Commission law, of which he was one of the main proponents 26 years ago. Since then, he decried, sports has always perennially been at the starting line, and vowed to end this trend.
?I hope this will be the last beginning for all of us,? he said sternly. ?Let?s finish the fight already.?
Former representative and PSC commissioner Monico Puentevella cautioned legislators that it would not be as easy as they think to get pertinent sports laws through Congress. Puentevella started the move for a full-blown sports Cabinet member in the Lower House in 2004. He said he ran headlong into a resistant Department of Budget and Management.
Noting that the Arnis Law took nine years to get through both Houses of Congress, while the citizenship of Andray Blatche only took a matter of weeks, this writer asked the panel of representatives for a timetable for the passing of the Department of Sports Law. Would it be passed within this session of Congress?
Estrella replied, ?It will be done.?
Romero revealed that there are parallel efforts in the Senate and the House, which will accelerate the process, and promised that there will be a Department of Sports before their three-year term ends.
That is a promise our sports stakeholders are banking on.
