The promotion of indigenous games in the country through regular competitions and the strengthening of local sports programs through institutionalized funding for young athletes were at the forefront of a House panel’s meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 8, as the committee approved three bills for these purposes.

The House Committee on Youth and Sports Development’s 2nd regular meeting, presided by chairman Isabela 5th district Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III, approved House Bills (HBs) 1651 and 4465, or the act “preserving and promoting the indigenous games of the Philippines” by Pangasinan 6th district Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas and Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas.

It also approved HBs 2704 and 4376, or the act “strengthening local sports programs to develop young athletes and appropriating funds therefor” by Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred Delos Santos, as well as HB 5190, or the act “assisting youth athletes by providing programs and incentives for their development” by Manila 1st district Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr.

A substitute bill of the consolidation of HBs 1651 and 4465, as well as HBs 2704, 4376, and 5190 will be prepared by the committee secretariat.

In their bill’s explanatory note, Romualdez and fellow Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre lamented that only a few Filipinos were able to internationally compete and represent the country despite being rich in talent and passion.

“To be able to provide the country's promising youth athletes the necessary support they need, it is imperative upon the State to allocate funds and financially support them,” the note read, adding that the bill will institutionalize three programs funds.

These funds will provide vouchers for young athletes that they can use to pay for the registration, membership, participation, and training fees, support for local sports clubs, recreation clubs, and sports organizations for projects and programs, and assistance for local sports clubs, recreation clubs, and sports organizations to improve their sports facilities.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bones Floro expressed support for the bill during the hearing.

“I think it is also about high time that all of us in the NSA (National Sports Association) . . . get our act together with regard to grassroots and regional discoveries and in games,” he said.

“We can’t just rely on PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) to go nationwide doing grassroots. We should also do our part. We should be in partnership with PSC,” he added.

Leyte 4th district Rep. Richard Gomez, a former actor and athlete, recognized the challenges for the government to provide funds to young athletes because of the different sports clubs and associations in the country that need the support.

“Definitely, the PSC will run out of funds if they will push through with this. The funds of PSC is very limited as it is right now even in supporting the national sports associations and our elite athletes,” the lawmaker said.

He furthered that LGUs should also help in allocating funds for sports associations and sports clubs.

The House panel also approved Vargas’s HB 4465, or the “Philippine Indigenous Games Preservation Act", which was filed on Sept. 6., to protect indigenous and traditional street games Filipinos have played since they were children.

It aims to empower the PSC, POC, and LGUs to conduct annual regional and national indigenous sports competitions.

Among these games are patintero, tumbang preso, siato, taguan pung, and tumbang preso.

“These indigenous games have shaped generations of Filipinos and have imparted values of teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship. It has been part of our childhood and our cultural heritage,” he said in the explanatory note.

“This proposed measure seeks to preserve indigenous games to ensure that future generations of Filipinos can still enjoy them,” Vargas added.

The solon lamented that the same measure was previously approved by the House of Representatives on the third and final reading and was even transmitted to the Senate.

However, it failed to pass there because of time constraints.

Floro said the committee is in “absolute support” of the proposed measure.

“Aside from all the cultural benefits and historical, we appreciate the physical and mental benefits for our next generation,” he added.

Eugene Garcia of the Commission on Higher Educations-Office of Student Development and Services (CHED-OSDS) also expressed support for the bill.