Lawmakers are pushing to add pole vault to PSC’s grassroots program Batang Pinoy and are looking to add additional protocols for violence in sports setting.
As the grassroots program of the Philippine Sports Commission—Batang Pinoy National Championships— is set to begin today, December 17, at the Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, with the opening ceremonies to be attended by Olympic silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio-- lawmakers are demanding specific changes to the development of sports in the country.
More specifically, Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfredo Delos Santos has asked the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) and tertiary schools to add pole vault in their events and curriculum to make it easier for the PSC and PATAFA to include pole vault in the Batang Pinoy competitions in the coming years.
Citing Olympian EJ Obiena as an example of the success of the sport in the country, Delos Santos hopes that the next edition of Palarong Pambansa next year will have “a stronger pole vault contingent of competing athletes.”
“To ensure the lasting impact of EJ Obiena in Philippine athletics, pole vault should be included in the Batang Pinoy championships and grassroots competitions nationwide,” he stressed.
Delos Santos also named recent pole vault standouts in the country which includes UAAP Season 85 athletics competitions, Kent Francis Jardin of Adamson University, who claimed 7 gold medals including one for pole vault, and De La Salle University’s Francis Edward Obiena who cleared a personal best 4.55 meters last November at the PATAFA Weekly Relays Finals Meet in Pasig City, that the younger generations can look up to as their role model for the sport.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua (3rd District) called for new rules and protocols on the rampant violence and alleged abuse that surround collegiate basketball while giving more attention to new investments in players’ support and welfare and valuing players “for what they are truly worth.”
Some of the infamous controversies in Philippine collegiate sports this season are Jose Rizal University’s John Amores’ physical attack against the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, and Ateneo De Manila University’s point guard Forthsky Padrigao with his alleged abuse towards women which Padrigao, nor the university, has yet to address.
Now is the best time for sports governing bodies to intervene and redirect sports into a cleaner and more productive path as the Philippines is slowly but surely making a name in producing homegrown talents in different areas of sports.
Tags: #PSC, #batangpinoy, #sports