Under the close supervision of the World Aquatics-backed Electoral Committee, chaired by Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general Atty. Edwin Gastanes, 19 regional representatives, led by two-time Olympian and now Congressman Eric Buhain, were elected by swimming clubs and associations from their respective areas/regions during a series of hybrid zoom assembly/elections that culminated on Thursday.
From these 19 representatives will come the new officials of the Philippine Swimming, Inc.
“Just a few more laps and it’s victory for Philippine swimming, and a bright future for our perennial deep pool of talented Filipino swimmers,” said Buhain of the 1st District of Batangas and president of the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc.
Buhain was unanimously elected as representative of Region 4A (CALABARZON) and is expected to take a seat in the PSI Board of Trustees.
The Electoral Committee set the PSI National Congress and BoT election on June 8, a week earlier from the previous announced scheduled as agreed upon by the 19 representatives.
The elected BoT will then hold an election from among themselves to choose the new president of the national swimming body.
Aside from Buhain, elected regional representatives are Cecile ‘Bing’ Doromal (Region 4B); Bing Rosales (Region 5); Cris Bancal (Region 6); Jess Arriola (Region 7); Rex Dela Cruz (Region 8); Gib Sing Wong (Region 9); Leo Sanchez (BARMM); Angel Leonardo (Region 10); Jun Rodriguez (Region 11); Michael Talosig (Region 12); Willie Yu (CARAGA); Coach Emmanuel (CAR); Isagani Corpuz (Region 1); Elmer Corpuz (Region 2); Biboy Asturias (Region 3), Michael Vargas and Fred Galang Ancheta (National Capital Region) and Marie Dimanche (Sectoral Representative).