Coordinating council ‘will boost sports in grassroots’

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

1-PACMAN party-list Rep. Mikee Romero looks to fast-track the development of the country’s grassroots sports program with the creation of a National Coordinating Council.

Romero yesterday said the council can immediately address the lack of a streamlined sports program even as he had already filed House Bill No. 287, which pushes for the creation of the Department of Sports.

“Since we are still waiting for the establishment of the department, we have to form the NCC to address the grassroots development problems in the country,” Romero said.

The proposed Department of Sports will lead the implementation of policies that can tackle numerous problems in national sports, including the athletes’ limited training and funding, inadequate sports facilities and the lack of effective and long-term programs.

Romero hopes to start with the country’s poor grassroots program that has left “hundreds of young and talented athletes untapped.”

“We have to prepare hard for the Tokyo Games in 2020,” said Romero.

Weightlifter Hidylin Diaz bagged a silver medal in the recent Rio de Janeiro Olympics to end the Philippines’ 20-year medal drought, but the country has yet to capture a gold unlike some of its Southeast Asian neighbors.

“If the stakeholders are amenable, we have to meet monthly so we can create the right formula for our athletes,” he said.

Romero said the NCC must be composed not only of members of the House, but also key figures from the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Department of Education, Pagcor, UAAP, NCAA and other major leagues in the country.