Romero wants 1-million signatures to lobby for creation of ‘Department of Sports’

MANILA, Philippines — The first step for the “permanent and winning” solution for all the troubles of Philippine Sports today is to get it heard.

Get 1 million signatures — that’s what young sportsman Dr. Mikee Romero plans to do first in his advocacy for reform, starting with the creation of Department of Sports (DOS).

“I, myself, want to undertake a one-million signature campaign program from the awareness of athletes asking for the creation of DOS,” said Romero in a speech late Saturday.

According to Romero, the DOS is the “permanent solution to the funding and infrastructure problems of the Philippine sports program.”

“It will serve as the new platform for Philippine sports, the foundation of which is to build the blocks of modern and result oriented sports program,” Romero added.

Romero was the guest speaker in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) awards night at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

To get the ball rolling for the elaborate signature campaign, Romero said he is doling out P200,000 as “seed money.”

The dynamic businessman, who also owns GlobalPort in the PBA, spoke before all athletes being feted, National Sports Association (NSA) heads, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Richie Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.

“I strongly believe this [that] we need structural reforms, meaning we have to reform with the indulgence of our PSA chair and POC heads,” said Romero.

Romero spent the first 10 minutes of his speech talking about the country’s medial drought in the Olympics and other international competitions.

“Philippines sports is the sole unifying factor in bringing together a diversified nation. We need a new platform, structure and organ to propel us to greater heights,” he said.