PSC chair Butch Ramirez and Usana Philippines vice president Aurora Mandanas-Gaston (center) with (from l-r) PSI national training director Marc Edward Velasco, Josephine Medina, Usana executive Lerwin Onanad and Rubilen Amit. Photo by June Navarro
The Philippine Sports Commission has forged a partnership with the United States-based company Usana Health Sciences, Inc. that will benefit the 300 elite athletes from the national team for the next two years.
PSC chair Butch Ramirez and Usana Philippines vice president Aurora Mandanas-Gaston signed a memorandum of agreement Wednesday together with Philippine Sports Institute national training director Marc Edward Velasco and Usana field development supervisor Lerwin Onanad.
“I’m very happy that Usana partnered with us and invested in our athletes,’’ said Ramirez. “Any help and support for the national team is welcome news and shall be vital in our campaign for higher achievement on the global arena.’’
Velasco said nutritional supplements will be given to Filipino athletes who played in the Olympics, Asian Games and medalists of the previous Southeast Asian Games as well as Class A, B and C priority athletes.
Before the government sports agency formed the teamup, Usana has already been supporting 30 national athletes, including Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Southeast Asian Games men’s triathlon champion Nikko Huelgas, Misagh Bahadoran of the Philippine Azkals and Amit.