AN opportunity to further push for the creation of the Department of Sports is now at hand.
Newly elected 1Pacman party-list solon Mikee Romero said this Tuesday at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum in Shakey’s Malate.
1Pacman stands for One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals.
Now that Romero is a member of the House of Representatives, he said that finding ways to give direct financial assistance to athletes and programs alike will help solve a lot of problems in Philippine sports.
“With the Department of Sports having a cabinet position, you can have budget for training. If it’s the Philippine Sports Commission, which is an agency, you have a problem, because it relies on the 5% remittance from PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.),” said Romero.
“Mamamalimos na lang ba palagi ang mga atleta? Kapag may Department of Sports na, ‘di na mamamalimos,” added Romero.
Romero feels that with DOS, they will be able to address the need for sports infrastructure, which will solve perennial problems like the lack of training, the lack of a grassroots program and inadequate sports facilities.
He is also pushing for the need to purchase 100 hectares of land in Clark Field, Pampanga, where a training center for athletes could be built.
He learned from PSC Chairman Richie Garcia that the two agencies, the PAGCOR and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, need to remit close to P4 billion between 2010 and 2015.
The PSC Act of 1990 clearly mandates that 5% of PAGCOR’s gross income should automatically be remitted to the PSC.