Marcos: Make sports a unifying force in PH
President Marcos told the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) and other sports organizations to continue breaking barriers and make sports a unifying force in the country.
“I call on the PSC, as well as every sports association and community in the country to continue breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, building a nation where sports serve as an inclusive and unifying force,” Marcos said.
“In so doing , we can look forward to a new Philippines, bagong Pilipinas, that is bound by the ideals of industry, integrity, and teamwork, and committed to the pursuit of greatness and excellence,” the President added.
Marcos stated this during the awarding of incentives to the medalists of the 4th Asian Para Games in Malacañan on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
In his speech, he recognized the important role of sports in the nation's development and unity. Thus, he cited government efforts to build athletic infrastructure such as gyms, athletic ovals, and safe sidewalks for ordinary citizens.
The overall objective, the Chief Executive said, is to promote sports down to the grassroots, not to merely create a talent farm for national teams but to use sports for nation-building.
“A good sports program goes beyond trophy collecting. It should harness our collective strengths to realize the common good,” Marcos said.
“So we must train, we must fund, and nurture our national sporting elite that is able to compete with the world’s best so they can bring us pride and glory and inspiration," he added.
During the ceremony, the President provided the athletes monetary awards totaling P13.45 million in addition to the incentives provided under RA 10699.
Under Republic Act No. 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, all national athletes who won in international sports competitions and events are entitled to monetary benefits. The athletes who won in the 4th Asian Para Games in individual events will receive P1 million for gold medal finish, P500,000 for silver and P200,000 for bronze.
The teams that competed with less than five participants per team shall receive the same cash incentive for individual medal winners to be divided equally among the members present during the competition. Their coaches will receive half of the athlete’s cash incentive. In total, the PSC shall provide P19.5 million.
The Philippines finished 9th overall out of the 44 participating countries in the sporting event held in Hangzhou, China in October.