Escudero says NSAs must hone more local athletes

SEN. FRANCIS “Chiz” Escudero yesterday reiterated his call to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to support national sports associations (NSAs) in strengthening their programs by staging their own competitions aimed at discovering fresh talents.

The lawmaker said that although the Philippine National Games remains the centerpiece competition of the PSC, the NSAs should sustain the development of the athletes by staging more events.

“There should be more competitions for athletes in different levels,” he said.

The senator also scored NSAs which seemed to have slackened in their duties to conduct local tournaments.

“They just rely on the PSC projects and the Palarong Pambansa to produce athletes for them,” he said.

At the same time, Escudero lauded NSAs with strong national open and age group programs like athletics, golf, taekwondo, boxing and karatedo.

“The programs are there. And from what we see and hear from PSC officials during budget deliberations, the structure is fairly working,” he said.

Escudero said lack of elite athletes has led NSAs to take “shortcuts” by recruiting overseas-based Filipino talents. Cedelf P. Tupas