Press Release
December 13, 2007

Loren lauds RP athletes' gallant SEAG stand

Senator Loren Legarda lauded yesterday the valiant efforts being exerted by Filipino athletes in the Southeast Asian Games despite the country's slide from fifth to sixth place in the medal tally Wednesday.

"Our athletes are making us proud in the SEA Games competitions in Thailand. Let us rally behind them in their quest to give our country glory," said Legarda, author of a bill seeking to establish a Philippine Sports Authority (PSA).

Legarda took special mention of the gallant stand put up by the daughter of former Senator Rene Saguisag, Caissa, who competed in the balanced beam despite a knee injury and the recent tragedy of losing her mother Dulce to a vehicular accident.

In one of his column pieces in a national daily, Saguisag wrote about his daughter and why he named her after the game of chess.

"It warms the heart to read that Senator Saguisag's young girl has taken after both from Ka Rene and Dulce. She's a fighter all right," said Legarda.

"I would like very much to meet her in person."

Legarda said although the Philippines had slipped from fourth place during the early stages of the SEAG to sixth spot the other day, what's important is the big fighting heart being shown by Filipino atheletes.

"Sports is not all about winning. It is also how the human spirit conquers barriers," she said.

Legarda filed the bill seeking to create the Philippine Sports Authority so as to consolidate all efforts, provide direction and encourage investments in Philippine sports.

"Under this proposed measure, special bureaus are created under the PSA to provide specialized treatment to various facets of sports in the country like the Bureau of Amateur Sports, Bureau of International Sports and the Bureau of Professional Sports," said Legarda in the explanatory note of her bill.

The bill also seeks to create a collegiate body to be known as Philippine Sports Institute to provide education and training in accord with international standards to athletes, coaches and other support groups involved in sports.

The PSA shall also have quasi-judicial functions to settle disputes between and among the members of any sector in the sports industry.

"Despite the state policy and the existence of government agencies mandated to oversee the promotion and development of sports in our country, the state of sports in our country leaves much to be desired," she said.

"Although there is no shortage of participation in several team and individual sports, the level of competition and competence created at all levels has lagged behind world class standards. Lack of innovative training methods, state-of-the art facilities, and modern equipment continues to undermine the potential of Filipino athletes.

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