Solon seeks approval of sports bills in Senate

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte is asking the Senate to pass two measures to enhance sports development in the grassroots level to enable the country to send more competitive athletes abroad

Villafuerte said the two bills, which have been passed by the House of Representatives, mandate the establishment of a broader, grassroots-based national recruitment program for young and talented athletes in the hope that they could perform even better in multi-sports competitions like the just-concluded Hangzhou Games.

“I am optimistic that the senators would consider, after the Halloween Recess, twin measures that the House of Representatives had approved on third and final reading, in a bid for more of our young athletes to excel in international sports competitions like the 19th Asian Games in China, and provide initial financial support to them and their respective sports clubs or organizations,” Villafuerte said.

The Philippines placed 17th in the 19th Asiad in Hangzhou, China, bagging 18 medals, comprising four golds plus two silver and 12 bronze medals.

It was two notches higher for the Philippines, which was 19th in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2018.

Villafuerte said the LowerHouse had approved on third and final reading House Bill 8468 giving a central role to local government units (LGUs) in the institutionalization of a biennial Philippine National Games (PNG) program  that shall be the premier nationwide platform for identifying and training athletes who have the potential for becoming world-class athletes in international sports contests.

The House had likewise passed on third and final reading the complementary HB 8495 that seeks, he said, to grant  start-up funds or discount vouchers to young athletes, including those with disabilities, who cannot afford to pay the membership fees of local sports or recreation clubs; and support funds for accredited sports organizations to either sustain their grassroots sports development initiatives or improve their sports facilities

Both House-approved bills aim to flesh out Art. XIV, Sec. 19 of 1987 Constitution.  This is to institutionalize a national sports program at the grassroots