New PSC admin aims to reach out to more athletes in provinces

The Philippine Sports Commission will stretch its influence even in far-flung areas by setting up satellite offices in the provinces.

Incoming PSC chair William “Butch’’ Ramirez stressed the need to discover more talents from the countryside and nurture these athletes in training centers near their homes.

“We have existing training centers but it’s not enough. There’s more talent out there that we couldn’t tap simply because their parents won’t allow them to train here in Manila,’’ said Ramirez, handpicked by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to lead the country’s sports program for the next six years.

He said the PSC would definitely put up a training center in Cebu City with commissioner Ramon Fernandez manning the agency’s Visayas office.

Another PSC satellite will rise in Mindanao along with a training center for athletes headed by commissioner Charles Maxey.

Commissioners Celia Kiram and Arnold Agustin also form part of the PSC board with Ramirez, who has yet to designate a point person for Luzon.

Head of Mayor Duterte’s sports council in Davao City prior to his appointment, Ramirez also sat as PSC chair during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

During his first term in 2005 to 2009, the educator and sportsman from Ateneo de Davao put up the foundation of the Philippine Sports Institute, a grassroots program that he intends to cultivate under the Duterte administration.

“Let’s bring top coaches in the sports institute in the provinces and help train local coaches,’’ said Ramirez.

The PSC has a training satellite in Baguio City aside from the Rizal Memorial Sports Center in Manila and Philsports in Pasig City.