Pacquiao vows to support PSC
MANILA - Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao assured the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) yesterday that in his capacity as chairman of the Senate committee on sports he shall push for additional budget allocation of the agency for 2019.
Speaking in the press conference for the PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup, a joint grassroots sports project of the agency with Pacquiao, he bared the move to gather support for additional budget to bolster funds of the PSC for rehabilitation and construction of facilities.
“I went around the complex, there really are a lot of things to be done. Madami na talagang dapat i-repair,” Pacquiao said. He went around the grounds of the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila with PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and PSC Commissioners Mon Fernandez, Celia Kiram and Charles Raymond Maxey prior to the press conference and noticed the aging facilities.
The Senator also visited the PSC Sports Museum where he donated two signed posters and other memorabilia. “The PSC’s sports museum is nice but it should be in a more prominent place. Dito dapat sa harap,” he commented.
The PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup will be launched in the senator’s home city of General Santos in Mindanao on December 16. It will be a two-day contest with winners bringing home cash prizes and participants getting subsidies to cover their transportation and meals. The project will tour the country until May next year. Asked what will be in store for overall winners of the tilt, Pacquiao said “They will be supported. Tulungan natin sila to become better in boxing and maybe later on be part of the national team.”