Good for grassroots
Next week the Philippine Sports Institute will be inaugurated at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City, and it is something this space views with much interest, considering the possible windfall it has for local sports development. A brainchild of former Philippine Sports Commission chairman and now athletics head Philip Ella Juico and initially implemented by now PSC Chair William “Butch” Ramirez during his first stint as chairman of the sports body during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, the sports institute is being rebuilt this time to finally realize the long- sought objective of making sports development truly grassroots and far- ranging.
Primordial of the institute’s mission is to facilitate in the athletes’ education and development with the end game of improving their performance in competitions.
Also eyed is the jacked- up engagement of the national government with the local government units as far as the sports development program goes with plans to put up satellite offices/ training centers in different LGUs part of the thrust.
The setting up of the institute, sports officials say, is included in the PSC’s three main goals under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration, namely, unifying sports, promoting grassroots sports and ridding it of corruption.
No doubt about it, if the institute lives up to its promise it would be a boon to Philippine sports.
While we have seen some progress in some areas of sports development in the country, it has not really been the muchhopedfor collective growth that we are aspiring for.
“Piecemeal projects” have pretty much become the norm that only set us back relative to what our neighbors have done with regard to their own sports program.
This space views the institute as putting further organization in the overall scheme of things considering how admittedly funding for the sport sector is rendered limited in the country, necessitating better management of what is in our disposal.
By better reading the state of sports development, which the institute I believe would afford officials and stakeholders, various issues that need improvement would be addressed and things that are working fine- tuned and sustained.
Making up for lost time is a difficult process but that should not stop one from doing it to make things happen and improve.
The Philippine Sports Institute is one such project that should provide needed change for advancement if handled accordingly. And here’s hoping to its genuine success.