PSC eyes consolidated sports calendar, seeks more world-class homegrown talents

Afterdoing the rounds of different national teams, sports associations and training venues and meeting stakeholders over the past weeks, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board led by Chairman Richard Bachmann bared that plans for a consolidated national sports calendar and efforts to create more comprehensive grassroots sports programs to produce worldclass athletes are in the works.

“We have to continue to cultivate the grassroots in order to feed the elite level with fresh talents,” said Bachmann, who is also batting for a consolidated national sports calendar.

“We do not have a lot of resources so a consolidated calendar would help us all avoid duplications, overlaps and allow us to prepare better.”

This week, Bachmann, together with his PSC Commissioners Edward Hayco, Olivia “Bong’’ Coo and Walter Torres visited Cebu and sat down with the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC), Cebu City Local School Board in Labangon Elementary School and Cebu City Sports Center, observing different local sports which trace their roots in the country’s oldest city.

The PSC officials also took part in the launching of the Guinness world attempt for the largest rhythmic gymnastics hula hoop workout. They also graced the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the PSC Regional Training Center for weightlifting, which was also attended by Tokyo Olympian and Southeast Asian Games medalist Elreen Ando.

The Carreta, Cebu City native is a current member of the Philippine weightlifting team and a product of Batang Pinoy (Philippine Youth Games), one of the

Moses Billacura

It is heartwarming to know recently that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s Sports Commission headed by Arsalan Dimaoden took the courage to present a 12-point agenda to the new officials of the Philippine Sports Commission.

I exactly wrote “took the courage” because I do not normally hear from Mindanaoans taking the courage to present a sports program to officials in Manila. Normally, local sports officials would wait for an announcement of a sports program or project that would be implemented in

PSC’s long-time centerpiece grassroots programs.

The PSC is also set to establish satellite offices all over the country to make sure the national sports agency has point persons to oversee the grassroots program in their respective areas.

“This is a good way to have more Elreen Andos, and Hidilyn Diazes in Philippine sports. I hope we can develop more homegrown talent and strengthen our national team, and to nourish our chances of winning more Olympic gold medals in the future,” said the PSC chief.

Aside from checking on the sports facilities and training centers, the PSC board also paid a courtesy visit to the Office of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Undersecretary Terence Calatrava in Mandaue City, Cebu, where the latter pledged his support to the PSC on future collaborations in grassroots sports development in the region.

The PSC Board will wrap up the week in Zamboanga where a number of Philippine team members are based

EXCITING SPORTS DEVELOPMENT WORK BY BSC, PSC

the country. It has always been a waiting game.

The PSC, being the only government sports agency, would normally partner with the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the preparation and conduct of national games. LGUs would then receive a Memo and off they start working.

But the Bangsamoro Sports Commission did something that is worth emulating.

Sports facilities development, health and wellness, grassroots and youth sports, sports education, human resource develop- ment, continuation of the Sports for All program through PSC’s Laro’t Saya sa Parke, elite sports identification and support, traditional sports and games preservation, ensuring gender and equality in sports, sports linkages and collaboration, sports tourism and competitions.

Boy oh boy, these are very serious stuff!

Who could be the “brains” behind all these sports development stuff?

It took a lot of meetings, preparation, information gathering and consultations for the BARMM Sports Commission to come up with this brilliant presentation to the new PSC chairman Richard Bachmann and commissioners Bong Coo and Walter Torres in Manila.

I would love to see a vibrant sports community in the BARMM.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, I have read reports of Mindanao-based sports officials and coaches going to Muslim Mindanao cities and provinces to implement sports activities.

With the recent presentation to the PSC, this is a clear indication that Muslim Mindanao sports development has a very bright future with the help of the national sports agency.

I would love to see our Moro brothers and sisters get the needed support and you will just never know, in the next few years, there will be national athletes coming from Muslim Mindanao. And that would happen, thanks to the Bangsamoro Sports Commission and the PSC!

“I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it”. Yes, that’s the lyrics coupled with some dance moves. * * *

For comments, kindly email mpb_sports@yahoo.com.