POC chief sees better days under Duterte

Like his counterpart in government, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco expressed confidence that sports will have a better place in the next administration.

Cojuangco issued an early appeal to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is enjoying an insurmountable lead in the presidential elections, to give sports all the attention and all the support it needs.

“I definitely expect sports to be better than before,” said Cojuangco, ruing the fact that sports did not get the needed support from the government under President Aquino, who is Cojuangco’s niece. “As we start a new administration, sana

baguhin ang pagtingin sa sports. It will not get worse,” said Cojuangco.

The closeness between the President and the POC chief did not translate into victories for the Filipino athletes in the international arena the past six years.

Duterte is not known as a sportsman but has promised drastic changes in government. The country’s top sports officials are now keeping their fingers crossed.

“I know that the good mayor (Duterte) will give sports its due,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia three days ago.

Garcia said with all-out support from government, sports can produce more winners.

“We can produce champions with the support of Malacañang. Sports given importance will reward us with champions,” he said.

“We in the sporting world value the importance of the support Malacañang can give in building champion athletes,” Garcia, who will have to step down from office with President Aquino, added.

Jose Romasanta, the POC vice president, is also hoping for better days ahead, adding that sports policies in Davao City, where the next President hails, present a very positive sign.

“If it’s any indication, Davao City has a department in the municipality called Division of Sports headed by no less than former PSC chairman Butch Ramirez,” said Romasanta.

Ramirez served as PSC chairman under the Arroyo administration, and ran the government sports agency with humility and sincerity.

Ramirez, the only PSC chairman who chose to live with the athletes at Philsports Complex in Pasig during his term, returned to Davao City as the athletic director in Ateneo in 2010.

“Also, in Davao they have a mini-POC that was formed before and now headed by Dexter So. If you attend their sports council they have their own NSAs so given that and what they have there in sports and their concern for sports, it is part of their governance,” he said.

“I hope they will carry this through on a national scope,” Romasanta said.