MANILA -- The Philippine Sports Committee (PSC) board is studying to double the current cash gift given to the inductees of the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF).
“We will check if this is possible with the budget that we have,” PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said in a statement on Wednesday.
Currently, an inductee of the PSHOF receives PHP100,000 pursuant to Republic Act 8757, or an act establishing PSHOF.
Signed on Nov. 25, 1999, the PSHOF law enshrines Filipino athletes, coaches, and trainers who have brought honor and pride to the country in their career, and exhibited exemplary character.
Ramirez announced the PSC board’s plan to increase the cash gift after the PSHOF 2020 Committee, which he chairs, held its first meeting on Wednesday for the awards body’s fourth enshrinement.
“This is good that we met early so we have ample time to study the nominations,” Ramirez said.
He said the PSC board has issued two resolutions including recommendations for amendments to RA 8757. Another resolution is to automatically include as nominees the previous eligible nominees who did not make the final cut.
As the government’s sports agency, the PSC is directed by law to organize the Screening Committee and the awarding of the PSHOF title to the chosen athletes.
Nomination guidelines and forms will be released in time for the start of nominations on March 1. The awards night is tentatively scheduled for November 5.
The nominees will be screened by a committee consisting of Ramirez, Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Baham Mitra, Philippine Olympic Committee Secretary-General Ed Gastanes, Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines Secretary-General Avelino Sumagui, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) executive director Rebo Saguisag, and SEA Games gold medalist and Philippine Olympians Association president Akiko Thomson Guevara. (PNA)
