MANILA, Philippines – Boxing association president Ricky Vargas is confident he will get the votes come election day with his five-point program geared toward “developing a stronger Philippine Olympic Committee.”
Vargas aims to revitalize Philippine sports by providing good governance, empowering the national sports associations, selecting athletes based on performance, working hand in hand with the Philippine Sports Commission and getting support from the International Olympic Committee.
“We’ll develop a stronger POC, and that’s our mission for Philippine sports,” stressed Vargas, 64, who is seeking to end the 12-year reign of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., 82, as POC president.
If elected into office, Vargas promised good governance that would make the athletes proud of the officials that represent them. And that’s included in his five-point program.
First, Vargas said he would empower the NSAs and not dictate.
“I come from an NSA. You don’t choose NSAs; you don’t dictate the NSAs. You allow them to grow on their own and you have to empower them. You’re more of a commissioner – you work with; you enable,” Vargas said.
On good governance, Vargas said: “It’s something you do with your ability to govern as opposed to your ability to control which is political. Sports is not political. That would be our process as we’re here purely to help out.”
Coming with that is engaging with NSAs and athletes based on performance.
Vargas said that’s his life in the corporate world and that’s also the background of the other sports leaders in his ticket in their respective professions.
Running with Vargas in the November 25 POC election of officers are Rep. Bambol Tolentino (cycling) as chairman, Rep. Albee Benitez (badminton) as first vice president, Gen. Lucas Managuelod (muay thai) as second vice president, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios as treasurer and Ting Ledesma of table tennis as auditor.
Vargas said POC must have a good working relationship with the PSC especially with regards development program from the grassroots level.
“I’ve done that in the ABAP (Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines). We went out and tried to be able to partner,” he said.
Vargas is also keen on speaking on behalf of the NSAs before the International Olympic Committee and get support for them.
“We might be able to get funding on top of what we get from the government and support their programs,” said Vargas.
“That’s my commitment good for one term only. I will never seek another term,” Vargas added.
Why is he running for office just now?
“It presents itself now. And before, we’re new in our NSAs. MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) was new in SBP and I was new in ABAP. We wanted to focus our efforts (in our NSAs) although there were already many proddings then,” Vargas said.
“Now, we’re more stable. We’ve got recognition outside the country,” he added.