GIVING direct financial assistance to athletes and programs alike will help solve a lot of problems in Philippine sports.
This is one of the two fundamental changes that businessman-sportsman Mikee Romero will be seeking when he runs for congressman in the coming national elections.
And these changes, according to Romero, can happen with the creation of the Department of Sports, which will abolish the Philippine Sports Commission.
“At least, ‘yung direct financial budget makukuha mismo ng Department of Sports from the national treasury, umaasa kasi ang PSC sa PAGCOR at sa sweepstakes for assistance,” said Romero, who talked about his vision Tuesday at the Kamayan-Saisaki Restaurant in Padre Faura, Manila.
He added that it’s already bad enough that the PSC is depending on funds being given by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
“Hindi na aasa at mamamalimos sa PAGCOR at sa PCSO ang mga athletes kapag may Department of Sports na,” added Romero.
Another change that Romero sees with the existence of the DOS is that perennial problems like the lack of training, the need for a grassroots program and inadequate sports facilities can be addressed.
“All of these problems can be heard directly by the president. Kasi, kasama na sa cabinet ang sports,” added Romero, who is running under the 1Pacman partylist. 1Pacman stands for One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals.
Romero currently owns a team in the Philippine Basketball Association, Globalport, and said he was convinced to run because of his ideals in sports.
He started opening up about his idea on the DOS way back in 2013 in his speech during the annual Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night.
Back then, sports officials felt that its creation will not be possible.
But Romero, who showed up with his son Miguel, said this is a challenge that he is willing to take.
“In my lifetime, I will make it happen. I will put up the Department of Sports,” said Romero, who was once a president of the national sports association of shooting.
His experience as the president of an NSA gave Romero an idea of how it’s like to be a national athlete and how things are run in a sports association.
His experience as an athlete playing for the La Salle Zobel basketball team in his high school also made him aware of what it’s like to play for one’s school.
Romero also saw how Filipino athletes were left behind in terms of training and technical know-how when he joined the Philippine delegation to the London Olympics.
