Garcia bats for NSC

CEBU, Philippines – To bolster the country's sports development, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ricardo "Richie" Garcia strongly pushes for the implementation of a National Sports Council (NSC) instead of creating a Department of Sports as proposed by Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV.

Garcia, who is in town for the two-day National Sports Stakeholders Forum taking place at the Crown Regency Hotel, said the NSC is a better vehicle since it will involve the different stakeholders of Philippine sports. Unlike the NSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee cannot be involved with the Department of Sports because it is a private entity.

"The POC cannot be involved with it (Department of Sports) because they are not under the government," said Garcia.

Garcia also cited the importance of having the National Sports Associations (NSAs) as they have the technical expertise in choosing the national team members, something that the PSC has no hand in.

The NSC had actually been conceptualized before the proposed Department of Sports.

The establishment of the NSC is expected to address and strengthen the grassroots program in the country as presented byGarcia together with commissioners Salvador Andrada, Wigberto Clavecilla, Jose Luis Gomez and Gillian Akiko Guevarra.

“One of the foremost missions of the PSC is to have a unified sport for all programs for Filipinos, young and old. We are setting our sights in crafting programs and activities, to promote sports awareness and participation, among the citizenry,” said Garcia.

Here, LGUs down to the barangay level are given the right to strengthen its sports programs in the community.

Along with this, local sports officials are hoping that there will be a plantilla positions in the government like a sports director or coordinator in each LGU for the sustainability of each project.

Pampanga Representative Joseller “Yeng” Guaio, the vice chairman of the House Committee on Sports, pledged to fully support anything that had been discussed yesterday and will pass a bill in congress if needed for the further development of sports.

Aside from that, Guiao also promised to look into the possibility of using the funds set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan to PSC and its programs.

The discussion of the establishment of an NSC is part of the two-day National Stakeholders Forum attended by over 200 LGU representative and sports officials from 17 regions.

"We honestly believe in the important role of sports, in the development  of an individual’s overall being and its positive effect to the success of our society,” sabi ni Garcia. (FREEMAN)