Mikee Romero: Department of Sports needed

BUSINESSMAN-SPORTSMAN Mikee Romero is pushing for the creation of the Department of Sports that aims to address the country’s limited grassroots development program, inadequate sports facilities and the athletes’ lack of training and funding.

“I’m pushing for its creation because it will resolve a lot of the perennial problems in sports,” said Romero, owner of PBA team GlobalPort. “Some people think it’s a small thing. But put together, it’s a big problem.”

Aside from his involvement in pro and amateur basketball, Romero had served as president of the national shooting and cycling associations.

Romero, also first-rate polo player, said his experience in various sports gave him a front-row view of how Filipino athletes have lagged behind in training and technical knowledge.

“There is a fundamental and structural problem in Philippine sports,” said Romero, who hopes to put his reforms in motion by seeking a congressional seat through party-list 1-Pacman (1-Patriotic Coalition of Margi-nalized Nationals).

“We are the third largest country in Southeast Asia, with over a 100 million population, but we rank sixth to eighth in the Southeast Asian Games,” he added during a press conference yesterday at Kamayan Padre Faura.

“Singapore is just at three million, but they rank second to third. There’s a mismatch of our resources.”

Romero first batted for a sports department three years ago, which he said drew opposing views from some officials.

“But I’ve seen the problems and I know what it’s all about,” he said.