Efficient Davao sports setup mirrors PSC, POC

DAVAO City has its own small version of the Philippine Sports Commission that runs fluidly under the Office of the Mayor—the kind of importance sports gets under Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta yesterday noted the existence of the sports office which he said directly benefits the city’s athletes in many ways.

No less than former PSC Chair William “Butch” Ramirez heads the Davao City Sports Development Division, which mirrors the functions of the PSC, the powerful government sports agency.

According to Romasanta, there’s also a mini-POC in the city headed by Dexter So apart from Ramirez’s DCSD, which is backed by Christopher Lawrence Go, Duterte’s executive assistant.

“If you attend their sports council, they have their own NSAs (national sports associations),” said Romasanta. “Given that and what they have there, sports is included in their governance.”

POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. said he is hopeful that sports will be given priority in the administration of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I hope more importance will now be given to sports,” said Cojuangco. “I expect sports to get better treatment than before.”

PSC Chair Richie Garcia also expressed confidence that sports will be in good hands under Duterte.

“We in sports value the importance of the support Malacañang can give in building champion athletes,” said Garcia. “I know that the good mayor will give sports its due.”