COTABATO CITY — A delegation of the Bangsamoro Sports Commission (BSC) met with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board on Monday, Feb. 27, seeking to work hand-in-hand with the national sports agency in terms of strengthening grassroots sports programs in the BARMM.
In a meeting held at PSC Conference Room at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, BSC Chairperson Dr. Arsalan Dimaoden presented a 12-point agenda to the PSC.
This agenda include close cooperation on sports facilities development, health and wellness in BARMM, grassroots and youth sports, sports education, human resource development, the continuation of the “Sports for All program” through the conduct of PSC’s Laro’t Saya sa Parke (LSP), elite sports identification and support, traditional sports and games preservation and promotion, ensuring gender and equality in sports, sports linkages and collaboration, sports tourism and sports competitions.
“It is our earnest understanding that we can utilize sports as a realization for the development of Mindanao and the country,” said Dimaoden.
Meanwhile, PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann expressed his support for the proposal and batted for unity between the two sports agencies to consider as one group which focused on Filipino athletes.
“Let us find the athletes sa bawat parte ng Pilipinas and this is what I want to push in my term together with our Board of Commissioners,” Bachmann said.
He encouraged the delegates to work together to build facilities not only for popular sports but also for other sports throughout the country.
“We also need to align the grassroots programs for the stakeholders such as the NSAs, BSC and other individuals who have ideas regarding grassroots sports development in the country,” he added.
PSC Commissioners Walter Torres and Olivia Coo also expressed support and possible collaborations with the BSC.
“The PSC can send a team to conduct a feasibility study for the sports facilities development in the region and ask that accessibility for para-athletes be observed for the building of the facilities,” Mr. Torres said.
“I offer our programs Laro ng Lahi and Women in Sports programs to be conducted in BARMM. There is a need to increase the inclusion of more girls in grassroots programs,” Coo stressed.
Monday’s meeting with PSC was attended by a 23-man delegation from BSC including Commissioner of Tawi-Tawi Abdulkhabir Musa, Commissioner of Maguindanao Nu-man Caludtiag, Commissioner of Basilan Yushoup Sario, and other key staff from BSC. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from BSC)
