A MAJOR makeover of the Philippine Sports Commission is in the works under the watch of leading presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte.
The country’s next president is inclined to reorganize the sports body with more budget and powers than the current PSC.
Duterte has been silent, though, on his choices for the next chairman and his four commissioners.
“I would like to integrate it (PSC) into one body. There’s always a problem with money, nagku-compete sila with one another, nagkakaselosan. Integrate it to one body, tapos isa na lang ang boss,” Duterte was quoted as saying by his advisers in Davao, one of whom is his long-time adviser, former PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
For now, Ramirez is still reluctant to accept any national post under Duterte, saying that his family is his priority.
“I still have to talk to the new president, Mayor Duterte. I have no other plans (at the moment). I’m focused on my family. Tingnan natin,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez said this before he joined members of Duterte’s executive council over their plans to finalize the composition of his Cabinet and various government agencies.
He said he is happy to stay on as sports adviser of Mr. Duterte and as Davao City’s Sports Development Division chief.
Duterte’s plans for sports won’t happen immediately, though, as he wants to address bigger concerns at the moment, which is food security, poverty, criminality, illegal drugs and unemployment.
Ramirez, who resigned from the PSC in 2009, will be among those who will review the feasibility of Duterte’s plans.
And while officials of the PSC await Duterte’s next moves, they have already drafted a plan which seeks the retention of the Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games programs under the new administration.
So far, there are plans to stage the Northern Luzon leg of the Batang Pinoy in Ilagan, Isabela. And it has been calendared in August, according to program head Jay Alano.