Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua on Thursday, March 27 renewed his call to boost the sports economy, as he said the recent victory of Filipino tennis player Alex Eala at the Miami Open as well as other Filipino athletesin the global arena proved that efforts to support them must be "exponentially" expanded.
Eala's feat highlights PH need for sports economy approach — solon
Mar 27, 2025 08:29 AM
At a glance
A lawmaker-sports advocate on Thursday, March 27 renewed his call to boost the sports economy, as he said the recent victory of Filipino tennis player Alex Eala at the Miami Open as well as other Filipino athletes in the global arena proved that efforts to support them must be "exponentially" expanded.
Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua says there must be a sports economy approach that is "built on and around an ecosystem of sports policies, investments, programs, and projects".
He said short-term sponsorships, product endorsements, incentives, and piecemeal laws "will not bring us to the promised land".
"Those are only enough to reach the next corner," Chua said.
He emphasized that only a sports economy approach that "will take us all the way to the next level".
"Philippine sports must be transformed into a full-blown socioeconomic sector," he added.
Eala, 19, knocked out world No. 2 Iaga Swiatek from contention in the Miami Open to advance at the semi-finals.
Chua cited Eala's recent feat as well as those from double Olympic gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo and top-ranked pole-vaulter EJ Obiena.
"To produce more champions like Alex Eala, Carlos Yulo, and EJ Obiena in every sport, that effort must be many magnitudes greater than mere exponential," Chua said.