THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) approved its massive P600-million annual budget last March 28 via a board resolution to fuel its various sports programs around the country for the year 2018.
Last Wednesday, before the members of the PSC board went to have their respective Holy Week break, they passed Board Resolution No. 421-2018 that is mainly focused on the development of elite sports top-tier priorities through the National Sporting Associations (NSA) of the country.
The 10 priority sports that PSC categorized as top tier are weightlifting, judo, windsurfing, gymnastics, surfing, boxing, track and field, archery, swimming and taekwondo.
These sports were identified after four months of study on what sport the Philippines has bigger chances of winning medals in major international competitions.
The second tier sports is comprised of both Olympic and non-Olympic sports and the third-tier are other sports that PSC did not name.
“Finishing the initial PSC master plan is key for the agency for this will be in line with the Philippine Development Plan,” said PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez in a press briefing last Wednesday at the PSC headquarters in Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“We have the support of the minority and majority in the Congress that will ignite our programs to getting major support from the government.”
PSC also revealed that it will start housing national team athletes at the Philippine Sports Complex in Metro Manila. They will be provided with quality and nutritious meals while they are training in their respective sports with PSC hiring an executive chef to oversee their nutrition together with sports nutritionists from the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI).
“We are planning to finish the rehabilitation for our canteens by May 30, 2018,” said acting deputy executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr.
Also included in the budget are national team training camps in Baguio City, Rizal, La Mesa Dam and other areas in the country where national team members are currently training.
The annual budget will also be used for PSC’s grassroots programs such as the Children’s Games that will be visiting Kalibo, Guimaras, San Carlos City and Hinunangan, Southern Leyte for the whole month of April.
The P600 million budget also covers the Philippine National Games which will be held in Cebu City from May 19 to 25 and the Batang Pinoy National Finals in Baguio City from September 15-21.