Richie Garcia. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
PHILIPPINE Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia is confident that Philippine sports will be in good hands when Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte takes over as the country’s new president.
“I know that the good mayor will give sports its due,” said Garcia, who lauded the convincing victory of Duterte in the national elections.
According to Garcia, much of the country’s success in sports hinges on the backing of the government, especially when the President is highly supportive of the athletes.
Duterte has two bona fide sportsmen in his inner circle—former PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez and Christopher Lawrence Go, the mayor’s long-time executive assistant.
On the PSC’s transition, Garcia said everything will be in order when the present board of the government sports agency hands over the reins to the new administration on June 30.
Among other things being prioritized, PSC chair Richie Garcia assured there would be no problem when Filipino athletes compete in the Rio De Janeiro Olympics on Aug. 5 to 21 and the Asian Beach Games come September in Dannang, Vietnam.
“We’ve already allocated funds for these events,” said Garcia.