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Some senators called for additional funding for national athletes ahead of a busy 2021.
The call, led by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, was made during the plenary session of the Philippine Sports Commission’s budget for next year.
“I think the budget is tiny and we have to support the athletes,” said Zubiri, a former world champion at arnis.
He said he believes the PSC, through the leadership of President Butch Ramirez, deserves a larger budget.
“The president of the PSC does everything possible and has done it with limited resources. But I must put on record that Mr. President (Senate President Vicente Sotto III), the credibility of the PSC president is intact in the last four years that the PSC has managed. Even the POC members have no doubts about his leadership in handling funds, ”said Zubiri. “I really appreciate the leadership of President Ramírez.”
Senators Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Francis Tolentino, and Sonny Angara, who sponsored the proposed budget for the PSC, also expressed support.
“I hope that we can do more for sport, not only because we can win medals at the SEA Games or the Olympics, but because sport is a unifying force. It gives a lot of hope to our compatriots and our people, especially the youth of our nation, ”said Villanueva, a member of the team of four mobs from the University of Santo Tomás at UAAP in the mid-1990s.
Reacting to the senators’ call, Ramírez said: “We are deeply moved by the support of our senators. We thanked them for recognizing the important role sports play in nation building, as well as for recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of our athletes. “
The PSC is now awaiting ratification of the congressional version of the agency’s budget so that both houses of the legislature meet in a bicameral committee. * PNA
