Garcia urges NSAs to go grassroots

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia yesterday urged national sports associations to exert effort in setting up grassroots development programs rather than just hope that the government would do these for them.

“What are the NSAs doing to discover athletes with potentials? Are they just waiting for the government?” asked Garcia after noting that some NSAs have no viable talent-search project in the provinces.

Garcia added that a sizeable number of NSAs resort to finding talent only through the help of the PSC and government.

The sports-funding agency has put up multi-sport events such as the Batang Pinoy—for athletes aged 13 years old and below—and the Philippine National Games while supporting the Department of Education’s Palarong Pambansa.

The Palaro caters to elementary and high school student athletes while the PNG is designed to tap potential athletes nationwide while testing the competitive level of athletes in the national training pool.

“The (NSAs) should start building their grassroots programs  in cities outside Metro Manila and in the provinces,” said Garcia, a day after arriving from another medal-empty campaign in the Olympics held in London.

The PSC chief also echoed PSC commissioner Buddy Andrada’s sentiments that overstaying NSAs leader without a notable track record in terms of athlete performance should now retire.