TWO party-list lawmakers on Friday proposed the creation of a Department of Sports to provide leadership in the promotion and development of sports in the country.
House Bill 65, authored by Reps. Karlo Alexei Nograles of Davao City and Jericho Jonas Nograles of PBA party-list, seeks to address the lack of a comprehensive national sports program for the country.
Rep. Karlo Nograles said the bill would likewise tackle the need to enhance partnership with various sectors involved in sports, obsolete training methods, lack of modern and high quality training facilities, equipment and sport venues.
He added that the proposed “Department of Sports Act” would attend to the requirements of athletes to improve their performance, as well as of coaches, trainers and sports officials in performing their functions.
Under the bill, authority and responsibility shall rest with the Secretary of Sports, who shall be appointed by the President.
Rep. Jericho Nograles noted that as part of their proposal specialized bureaus such as the Amateur Sports Development Bureau and International Sports Development Bureau shall also be created.
He said this would ensure proper implementation of the Act and help improve the performance of Filipino athletes in regional and international sports competitions.
He said the Department of Sports should be the primary policy-making, planning, coordinating, implementing and regulating entity of the government in the promotion and development of sports, physical education and physical fitness in the country.