A number of major breakthroughs in Philippine sports have been among the main highlights of President Rodrigo Duterte’s tenure as the first leader of the country from Mindanao.
Five years into his presidency, the chief executive broke the ground for the Philippine Sports Training Center and the National Academy of Sports (NAS) in Central Luzon.
The NAS will be situated at the New Clark City Sports Complex in Capas, whose establishment has been fast-tracked ahead of the Philippine hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Even the construction of the said athletic zone can be considered as part of the so-called “Duterte Legacy” in sports.
The athletic stadium will serve as the temporary home of Philippines Football League club United Clark for the 2022 season while its home field is being built in Angeles.
But Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez highlighted something that has been somehow overlooked by many.
In a recent press conference, Ramirez first said the highlight when asked about what Duterte has done for sports as he enters his final year as the top statesman.
“[Duterte is] the only president who has been present in all Palarong Pambansa,” Ramirez bared.
He then lauded Duterte for attending the opening ceremonies even if “the President is so busy.”
Since his overwhelming victory in the 2016 presidential elections, Duterte has been the guest of honor during the games’ opening rites in the past three events that pushed through.
The streak has technically been snapped when the “Palaro” had to be canceled for 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
However, two PSC commissioners, Charles Maxey and Mon Fernandez, have said in recent online pressers and podcasts that they are optimistic that the Palarong Pambansa and even the Batang Pinoy series will finally continue next year.
Assuming the “Palaro” will indeed resume next year, Duterte attending the opener in his swan song is a possibility.
Pulling off SEA Games hosting
Meanwhile, Ramirez also said the 2019 SEA Games hosting is something that Duterte can be proud of, too.
The Philippine hosting came in on a four-year notice when Brunei, the original host, begged off due to financial and logistical concerns.
On how the Philippines pulled it off despite having to take more focus financially in rehabilitating Marawi and the midterm elections then is a remarkable feat, Ramirez said.
“We are not a rich country, yet we budgeted the required amount and some facilities that we have provided,” he said.
He even recalled that he was surprised at how they got to spend around PHP2 billion in training alone for the SEA Games, which bore fruit as the Philippine team walked away as overall champion.
Ramirez also said Duterte showed his care for the athletes by spending a long session just to personally congratulate the SEA Games medalists after the country won the overall championship.
“He was the President who spent almost three hours with 300 athletes who received cash incentives in Malacañang, and he speaks with great appreciation, especially the achievement of Filipino athletes,” he said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
