Plan to change PSC status gains ground

THE PROPOSAL to elevate the head of the Philippine Sports Commission into a Cabinet-level position has gained ground  in the House of Representatives.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping’’ Cojuangco Jr. yesterday said the House committee on youth and sports has revived the plan to elevate the government sports agency into a department under the Office of the President.

Cojuangco said the committee chaired by Davao del Norte Rep. Anthony del Rosario brought up the move in a recent meeting with the top sports officials.

“They (committee members) talked about changing the commission into a department,’’ said Cojuangco, a two-term Tarlac congressman.

But since the process of transforming the PSC into a department takes time, Cojuangco suggested that the PSC chair could be appointed presidential adviser on youth and sports, a Cabinet-ranked portfolio.

It was a post handled by actor Richard Gomez during the term of President Estrada.

As Cabinet member, Cojuangco pointed out the PSC chair could operate on a bigger budget that could help push the creation of regional training centers across the country.

“It can be done. One in Visayas, another in Mindanao and two in Luzon,’’ said Cojuangco, who attended the meeting with committee members along with PSC chair Richie Garcia.

He added that putting up regional training centers has become a worldwide trend among successful countries in the Olympics such as the United States, China, Spain, Japan and even Singapore.

“It’s a plan since the last Congress. There are some advantages to make sports a department as in most countries,’’ said Garcia. “But like anything else, you need a good budget to make it work.”