Noting that the last time a sports training center was built was 85 years ago, the chair of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development hailed President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of a new law creating the Philippine Sports Training Center (PSTC), which would help athletes especially those from the provinces.
“The last time the government constructed a sports training center was in 1934 when it built the Rizal Coliseum,” said Abono Rep. Conrado Estrella, who steered the passage of the law at the House of Representatives.
He said the rise of PSTC will bring modern training facilities, methods and techniques to Filipino athletes who participate in global competitions.
Estrella also thanked members of his committee for actively participating in the crafting of the measure.
He said he was also grateful to boxing icon and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, chair of the Senate committee on sports, for supporting the measure.
The law provided for the construction of training facilities within 18 months in a location to be dependent on the needs of athletes, coaches and referees.
“This law, in effect, will help in preventing Filipino youth from engaging in drug addiction, complementing the President’s antidrug campaign,” Estrella said in a statement.
The law creating PSTC, Republic Act 11214, was one of 20 new laws that Mr. Duterte signed recently.
RA No. 11214 provided for P3.5 billion in funds to be included in the national budget.
It also tasked the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) with owning and operating the PSTC, including its facilities.
All income to be derived by the PSC from operating the PSTC will form part of the National Sports Development Fund, according to the new law. —Report from Julie M. Aurelio