Senior Citizen Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes (File photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau)
MANILA – A party-list lawmaker on Thursday emphasized the need for more sports economy policies to encourage investments in the development of grassroots sports.
Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes said more homegrown athletes can follow the footsteps of double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo by investing in school-based sport interventions that could nurture young athletes.
"More schools should be part of our country's Olympic quest. The state universities and colleges plus the maritime have the able-bodied and sports-minded people our country needs to win those competition medals," Ordanes said.
Ordanes said non-fiscal incentives, budget subsidies, and support from the Higher Education Development Fund can bring some of these schools into sports development or improve their existing athletics programs.
"Congress just needs to see the projects that can be made eligible for investments through sports economy policies," he said.
Ordanes said the National Economic and Development Authority and the Board of Investments could also administratively institutionalize the sports economy policies needed to bring in those investments.
The House of Representatives has approved on final reading a measure institutionalizing the Philippine National Games (PNG) program, which is envisioned as the national grassroots sports program and platform for the nationwide talent search in identifying and developing outstanding athletes who have the potential to excel in various sports, and place the country at the forefront of international sports competitions.
It shall serve as the country´s premier national sports competition, which would be held every two years.
Under House Bill 8468, the official sports in the PNG shall include the following: aquatics, archer, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiard and snookers, bowling, boxing, canoe-kayak, chess, cycling, dancesport, e-sports, fencing, floorball, football, futsal, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, lawn tennis, modern pentathlon, muay thai, pencak silat, petanque, rowing, and rugby.
Also included are sailing, sambo, sepak takraw, shooting, skateboarding, softball, soft tennis, squash, surfing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.
The PNG will become a venue for the National Sports Associations (NSAs) in promoting their respective sports programs at the grassroots level, providing the necessary linkages with local government unit (LGUs).
The chamber also approved on third reading a measure that aims to support young Filipino athletes by establishing a sports voucher system that they can use for their training or for the purchase of sports equipment.
House Bill 8495, entitled “An Act Strengthening Local Sports Programs to Develop Young Athletes,” also provides funds to sports clubs, organizations or associations accredited or recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). (PNA)
