Ni Edwin Rollon

INYO ang elite athletes, sa amin ang grassroots development program.

Iginiit ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez na napapanahon na markahan ang hangganan ng responsibilidad ng sports agency at ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) hingil sa pangangasiwa at pangangalaga ng sports sa bansa at mga atletang isinasabak sa international tournament.

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Ngunit, iginiit ni Ramirez na may karapatan ang pamahalaan na sitahin ang Olympic body, gayundin ang mga national sports association (NSA) kung lalabagin nila ang batas na umiiral at maaagrabyado ang mga atletang Pinoy.

"We respect the job of the POC, ang mga elite athletes sa kanila talaga yan. POC is in charge of the elite athletes because the NSAs (national sports associations) are the ones recruiting the athletes and the coaches. But again since we are funding them, we are part of the blame whatever happens in the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and in other international competitions. That's why we have the right to interfere with them. Hindi ito government intervention,” sambit ni Ramirez sa isinagawang media conference hingil sa katayuan ng Philippine Sports sa nakalipas na isang taon ng administrasyon ng Pangulong Duterte.

“But we will instead focus all our efforts in strengthening the grassroots sports program. We are bent on pushing for the current administration of President (Rodrigo) Duterte's direction to make sports accessible to the periphery... to the communities ... to the children."

Ayon kay Ramirez, ang pagpapatibay ng pundasyon sa grassroots ang siyang layuninng PSC at ng Philippine Sports Institute (PSI).

“For the past months, we’re conducting coaches seminar. Binuhay namin ang Mindanao Friendship Games at talagang papalakasin naming ang Children’s Game sa buong Pilipinas,” sambit ni Ramirez.

“We aim for the real ‘gold’ here, our children. Sports is a teaching tool. We teach our kids discipline, team work and determination in the hope of molding a future of good leaders and solid citizens in a society of peace and brotherhood,” pahayag ni Ramirez.

Aniya, naglaan na ang pamahalaan ng P100 milyon para makabili ng sapat na modernong kagamitan na magagamit sa pagsasagawa ng iba’t ibang programa sa mga lalawigan.

Ikinatuwa ni Ramirez na sa maagang pagkakataon, napansin ng UNESCO Office on Sports for development and Peace ang initiative na ginawa ng PSC sa Children’s Game-Sports for Peace sa Davao City.

‘The UNESCO has taken notice of this project, citing the Philippines as one of the first to implement a project which meets two or three major policy areas of the Kazan Action Plan which is hoped to be passed by Sports Ministers in the 6th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sports in Kazan, Russia this July,” sambit ni Ramirez.

"We are mandated by law to create a healthy and vibrant citizenry since July 1, 2016 up to now, we will continue promoting sports in the grassroots and the heart and soul of which is implementing the PSI,” aniya.

Sa kabila nito, may iniwang babala ang PSC chief sa POC.

“After the SEA Games this August, change is imminent,” pahayag ni Ramirez.