Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV is urging the Senate to look into the state of Philippine sports following the lackluster performance of the country’s 11-man delegation to the recent London Summer Olympics and the last Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
“We recognize the talent of our Filipino athletes and their display of perseverance, dedication, moral courage, strength of character and competitive spirit in various athletic competitions. It is very evident, however, based on our recent performances in global and regional competitions, that our country is not at par with the Olympic competitors and lags behind our Southeast Asian neighbors as well,” said Trillanes.
Trillanes filed Senate Resolution No. 838, urging the Senate Committee on Amateur Sports Competitiveness and other appropriate committees to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the current state of sports development in the Philippines after the poor performance of Filipino athletes.
He pointed out that it has been 16 years since the country last won a medal courtesy of Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, who won a silver medal in boxing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Seeking to uplift the status of sports in the country, Trillanes also filed Senate Bill 3092 which would create the Department of Sports. This agency will formulate policy, plan, coordinate, implement, promote and develop sports and physical fitness in the country.
“It is hoped that once the Department of Sports is established, sports would once again become an integral component of youth development, a galvanizing force for national unity and a source of national pride,” Trillanes explained.
Trillanes added that despite the mandate of the 1987 Constitution, the government seems to have overlooked the crucial role of sports in national development.
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