PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III assured proponents of Philippine sports of continued government support to ensure that Philippine athletes get the training and equipment they deserve to make it in the international sports arena.
The President gave this assurance in his speech keynoting the formal opening of the 2012 Palarong Pambansa held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here on Monday.
“Maasahan naman ninyo na patuloy ang suporta ng inyong pamahalaan sa pagpapabuti at pagpapaigting sa larangan ng sports sa bansa,” the President said.
He pointed out that aside from setting aside P200-million from the Department of Education’s budget for this year’s Palarong Pambansa, the government, through the Philippine Sports Commission has laid down the national plan for sports — the 2011-2016 Philippine Sports Roadmap.
This roadmap, the President said, has a “focus sports policy” which centers attention on the further development of choice sports field such as boxing, taekwondo, athletics, swimming, wushu, archery, wrestling, bowling, weightlifting and billiards.
He said P200-million representing 33 percent of annual remittances from the National Sports Development Fund will be used to fund the roadmap.
This fund, the President said, would be used to finance the Philippine National Games, that will give athletes at the grassroots level a chance to showcase their talent in hopes of landing a place with the Philippine Team. (PCOO)
