PSC has sole authority on amateur sports in PH: CHED

Philippine Sports Commission logo (Photo By Source, Fair use)

MANILA — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has reiterated its stand on recognizing the power of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to endorse groups in international sports.

In a statement Wednesday, CHED recognized the PSC as the sole authority on amateur sports in the country that has the power to provide endorsement and recognition to organizations and teams representing the Philippines in international sports competitions.

The statement added that CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan wrote Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Tony Umali, who is in charge of Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and Linkages, and School Sports, saying that requests to endorse sports organizations to represent the country in various international sports competitions, organizations and governing bodies should be directed to the PSC and not the CHED.

“These are powers belonging to the PSC,” said Licuanan in the letter referring to the provisions of Republic Act No. 6847, the law which created the PSC in 1990.

The statement added that the CHED has turned down requests from some groups seeking endorsement to represent the country in various sports-related events.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez has expressed his appreciation of the CHED’s acknowledgment of the PSC’s role and authority in amateur sports.

“We thank CHED for this nod. When we put things in order, it is easier for us to work together for development. Both CHED and DepEd are valuable partners of the PSC in sports development among the youth,” said Ramirez in a statement.

Meanwhile, the PSC will hold a national consultative meeting for collegiate sports at the Philsports Multipurpose Arena in Pasig City on Oct. 17-18 to help bolster support for sports in the collegiate level.

“University sports has always played a big role in elite sports. It has been a rich ground of sports talent and we want to continue to support them,” said Ramirez, a former athletic director of the Ateneo de Davao University.

The meeting is a follow-up to the previous gathering with school-based athletic associations held in November last year.

“PSC is very serious in strengthening grassroots sports. School sports is a pertinent component of that effort,” said Ramirez, who served as chairman of the Davao City Sports Commission before he was appointed PSC chairman.