The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has gotten support in its longtime bid to obtain the full five percent gross income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) remitted to the government sports agency as mandated by law.
Close to 150 officials from various local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao have signified their intention to sign a resolution addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte urging the state-run gaming firm to remit to the PSC an aid based on its gross income, as required by Republic Act 6487, the law that created the government sports agency.
The LGU officials unanimously agreed to back the PSC in its bid during a recent meeting with the agency’s top leaders, who briefed them on the role of and functions of the government sports agency. They were also educated on how the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) can help promote grassroots sports.
According to Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, who also serves as executive vice president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), they are coming up with a resolution after realizing the vital tasks that the PSC and PSI perform in the development of local athletics down to the communities.
Rellon added that he would urge the 140-member LCP nationwide to also craft a resolution addressed to the Chief Executive.
“This is a welcome development from my fellow Mindanaoans because nurturing grassroots sports requires a huge amount of money,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez during the meeting, which coincided with Davao City’s 80th founding anniversary.
“Governors and mayors are important in changing sports. We cannot have grassroots sports development without them. I’m quite happy with the enthusiastic response of our colleagues from Mindanao,” he furthered.
The event was the second in a series of dialogues with LGU representatives following the initial meeting held in Cebu last Tuesday as part of the PSC’s thrust of engaging them in enforcing Executive Orders 63 and 64 through the PSC. JESSE ONG