Honasan vows Magna Carta for sports

By June Navarro
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan Wednesday vowed to propose a “Magna Carta” for sports, an encompassing law which aims to cover all areas pertaining to the welfare of national athletes and the development of sports in the country.

Speaking before athletes and sports officials Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Honasan said the Magna Carta for sports could readily address critical issues on budget allocation and the continuity of programs.

“These are two vital issues crucial to the development of sports,” said Honasan, chair of the Senate committee on sports.

Honasan explained that current sports programs are bound to be shelved once a new set of government-appointed officers in the Philippine Sports Commission takes over.

“There’s no sustainability because we always go back to zero every time a new (PSC) chair gets appointed. It’s basically an obstacle to growth and improvement,” said Honasan

On government funding, Honasan espoused the need for officials to prioritize on where the money should be set aside due to budgetary constraints.

PSC chair William “Butch” Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and PSC commissioners Ritchie Garcia and Ambrocio de Luna graced the affair attended by at least 300 athletes and officials from national sports associations.

Otie Camangian, secretary general of the Philippine Volleyball Association, floated the idea of treating athletes as government employees.

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