Schools, athletic leagues want unified body on collegiate sports

PSC Chairman William Ramirez expressed his gratitude to all the participants as he announced that they will meet again in November to organize its structure, bylaws, guidelines and vote-in officers. (Photo: PSC (Philippine Sports Commission)/Facebook)

MANILA — Majority of school and athletic leagues in the country want a unified body on collegiate sports.

The general agreement was made among 76 universities, colleges, sports and athletic organizations that attended the two-day National Consultative Meeting for Collegiate Sports organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena in Pasig City.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez expressed his gratitude to all the participants as he announced that they will meet again in November to organize its structure, bylaws, guidelines and vote-in officers.

“In the meantime, the PSC shall take the initiative to write each organization’s president to formally report on the consensus reached in this two-day meeting,” said Ramirez in a statement released to the media Thursday.

Ramirez said the PSC wants to bridge the gap between elementary, high school and college levels for athletes.

“Most times, our children do not have much option after elementary or high school. They should have a clear direction on what option they have in the university level,” he said.

The PSC chief added that the tertiary level is part of the agency’s pyramid of sports development and that it should “get equal attention at the grassroots level because this feeds into the elite level of sports”.

Aside from a having a unified body on collegiate sports, the participants of the meeting also agreed to actively pursue collaboration on sports research, scientific coaching, and grassroots sports.

The protection of coaches against the piracy of athletes was also raised during the consultative meeting.

“We need the safeguarding of local homegrown athletes. Kung kailan sila hinog, tsaka sila kinukuha, nawawala (They are pirated once they have already matured as an athlete),” said University of San Agustin Sports Director Dems Tolentino.

Manuel Paster Jr. of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) addressed the plenary saying, “Kung tayo ay Pilipino, kung mahal natin ang Pilipinas, (If we are Filipinos, if we love the Philippines,) we have to move and legislate a national federation without losing other organizations’ identity.”

In closing, Ramirez said, “We came here because of character and leadership. Let’s make a difference”.