PSC commissioner Gomez suggests seeking help to address funding problem for sports development
Funding was discussed in the last day of the National Sports Stakeholders Forum yesterday at the Crown Regency Hotel.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Jose Luis “Jolly” Gomez said funding has been a problem in the country’s sports development.
PSC commissioner Jose Luis Gomez talks to the media after the two-day National Sports Stakeholders Forum at the Crown Regency Hotel. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Yesterday, Gomez spearheaded the last portion of the forum by addressing the problem raised by local sports stakeholders. Most of them said that without funds, they are not able to start or continue their respective sports programs in their areas.
Gomez suggested an alternative solution to address the problem. He said one way to address the issue is to tap the private sector for funding.
“The main problem really is funding. With so many sports programs, there’s a tug-of-war in the Department of Education to allot funding for the programs. Everyone who joined this forum has the same problem. That’s why we discussed alternative solutions to address this problem,” Gomez said.
Aside from funding, the forum also clarified the roles of DepEd, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in relation to PSC’s vision, mission and goals of developing sports here in the country.
PRAY HARD
Around 250 delegates composed of sports stakeholders, city and municipal mayors joined the two-day event spearheaded by PSC chairman Ricardo Garcia and Gomez.
In the first day, the forum tackled the implementation of the new LGU-based Philippine National Games (PNG) and Batang Pinoy starting next year and the submission of the proposed National
Sports Council (NSC) to the Office of the President that was signed by Garcia, Gomez and the 250 sports stakeholders.
“We pray that [the NSC] will be passed. We are hopeful but I don’t know. That’s why we do our work and pray hard,” said Gomez.
Meanwhile, Gomez also asked sports stakeholders to prepare themselves for the changes in PSC after the national elections next year.
“We won’t be around anymore so they have to prepare themselves. We will leave them with a sustainable sports program that they will continue with the next administration,” Gomez said.