President Rodrigo Duterte bannered the country’s achievements in sports in his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, saying Filipino athletes not only prevailed in the 30th Southeast Asian Games Games held in the Philippines last year but, more importantly, fostered genuine sportsmanship among all participants.
“Our athletes prevailed. More than that, we fostered pride, patriotism, genuine sportsmanship, and camaraderie in our South East Asian brothers and sisters. Indeed, we won as one,” the President said.
He cited the Philippine South East Asian Organizing Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, and the Philippine Olympic Committee for the country’s successful hosting of the SEA Games, recognizing the commitment of key members of Congress and the Executive Department who were “bound together with one vision.”
Representative Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (8th District, Cavite), POC President, for his part, said he will continue to work with Congress to continuously promote the welfare of the national athletes and coaches amid the COVID-19 crisis. He stressed the need to revert the slashed funds amounting to P110 million for the athletes’ allowances that was reallocated to other COVID-response programs.
“By giving them the adequate allowances that they deserve, we can show our genuine support to our athletes and coaches especially during these trying times,” Tolentino said.
Meanwhile, Duterte also expressed appreciation to Congress for the law that established the National Academy of Sports, saying the country can now give deserving student-athletes the training and support they need to excel in their chosen field of endeavors.
House Speaker Alan Peter “Compañero” S. Cayetano, who served as the Chair of the PHISGOC, thanked the President for his overwhelming support to the hosting of the SEA Games and to the Filipino athletes.
A sports enthusiast, Cayetano said he is optimistic that the Philippines’ hosting of the SEA Games ushered in a golden age for sports development in the country, citing the record-breaking performance of the athletes during the biennial multi-event sports competition.
“With our SEA Games experience, we have rediscovered our strength as a Filipino people, which lies in fighting as one and winning as one,” he said in a statement.
Cayetano said he also believes the Philippines’ hosting of the SEA Games was “just the beginning” and that the establishment of the NAS will sustain the momentum of sports in the country.
“The enactment of the NAS System Act boosts the country’s efforts to promote sports excellence and proves the support of the Duterte administration to the sports sector. The Philippines is blessed to have thousands of talented athletes and potential world champions,” he said.
“We can be a sports powerhouse only if we invest in the athletes’ training and facilities,” he added.
After the passage of the National Academy of Sports System Act, Cayetano vowed to continue working for the upgrade and creation of an inclusive well-funded grassroots sports program for the youth.
“The enactment of the law is a reaffirmation of Duterte’s commitment to give all Filipinos a safe and comfortable life through sports,” he said.