Ramirez’s return to PSC helm likely

THE NATIONAL elections are over and presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte is now being flooded with lobbyists who are offering their services to the new administration, which replaces the old at noon on June 30.

Understandably, the applicants include people who want to join the higher echelons of the government’s sports agency, the Philippine Sports Commission, whose chair the President appoints.

Now no one can consider sports as a minor sector because the PSC itself is under the Office of the President and, under the Constitution, the government has an obligation to promote and develop sports.

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Perhaps not too many people outside Davao City are aware that former PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez has been the city’s sports head for several years. Ramirez had also served as sports director of Ateneo de Davao.

We’re told that before a candidate is considered for a Cabinet position, he or she goes through a rigorous screening process.

Duterte has made it known that when he takes over, he will introduce drastic changes in Philippine sports.

Many people take this to mean that incumbent PSC chair Ricardo “Richie” Garcia, an appointee of President Aquino, will have to yield the leadership of the agency to a Duterte appointee.

Not too many people, however, know that Garcia is a good friend of Duterte.

But so is Ramirez who, unlike Garcia, has not publicly praised and congratulated his Davao City boss for his election victory.

Duterte may not be a sportsman, but foot-lickers have been predicting that sports management and development in the country would improve by leaps and bounds with Duterte at the helm.

With his commitment to change every aspect of government for the better, it will be safe to say that sports is also on his agenda.

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Since sports is apparently not one of Duterte’s priorities, many people in the sector are not speculating who will likely be installed to head the PSC, although Ramirez has been mentioned as the most likely candidate.

After all, Ramirez has the experience running the agency and has worked with Duterte in Davao. Does this mean that he does not need to go through the screening process?

Philippine sports under P-Noy’s administration has stagnated. Just look at where the country is now in the Southeast Asian Games. The Philippines finished a lowly sixth overall in the last edition of the Games in Singapore.

Now what do you think will Duterte do about this to improve the country’s standing in international sports?