Take a bow, Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
The country’s longest serving Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) head officially stepped down from a glorious six-year tenure that saw him lead a Philippine delegation to the overall championship in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and producing the country’s first ever Olympic gold last year.
Ramirez, a former professor and sports director at the Ateneo de Davao University before serving as the city sports chief under then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, will go down as the most productive PSC head having also led the country’s championship run in the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.
Ramirez stepped down at noon of Thursday along with Commissioners Charles Maxey, Ramon Fernandez, Arnold Agustin and Celia Kiram–the first PSC board that ever completed a full six-year term.
PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy sent off his long-time boss and the members of the board.
Iroy, another Dabawenyo at the PSC, assured that the allowance of athletes and coaches, as well as the salaries of employees, will not be affected by the change of leadership in the government sports agency.
He clarified, however, that any impending requests by national sports associations (NSA) will be put on hold pending the appointment of a new board of commissioners.
“The payroll of the staff and athletes will not get affected since it is all under the administrative leg,” said Iroy, the highest-ranking career official of the PSC.
“But the requests of the NSA will have to take a backseat because there is no board meeting at the moment.”
The PSC board left behind a trail of golden achievements highlighted by four gold medals in the 18th Asian Games, overall title in the 30th Southeast Asian Games and a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics – the country’s first since joining the Summer Games in 1904.
President Bongbong Marcos has yet to formally appoint a PSC chairman although sources are saying former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala is the frontrunner together with former Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Tom Carrasco, former Games and Amusement Board chairman Abraham Mitra and former Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chief Ramon Suzara.
Iroy assured the PSC employees will rally behind the new PSC leadership.
Meantime, in support of the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) mandate to promote and strengthen sports development in the country, the national sports agency sought to widen its reach and tap communities and families to promulgate the appreciation of sports through various programs implemented throughout the years.
One such program is Laro’t Saya sa Parke (LSP), which was launched nine years ago and has been going around local communities nationwide since. LSP program is set to be featured in PSC’s web series “Rise Up! Shape Up!” tonight, June 30 at 7 PM.
PSC Oversight Commissioner for Women in Sports Comm. Celia H. Kiram remarks that the Commission is eager to continue the Laro’t Saya sa Parke program, which benefitted 4 million families from the metro to even the far-flung localities in the country.
“PSC has always supported sports appreciation and development at the grassroots. Through Laro’t Saya sa Parke, we have a nationwide sport for all program that allows families to bond through sports, encourage kids to play as well as provide an opportunity for a continuing active and healthy lifestyle for all through physical fitness and sports.”
The episode will guest Dr. Lauro “Larry” Domingo, PSC’s Planning Division Chief, to talk about the legal bases of the program, the development framework, and the games included in the program as well as the benefits of engaging in LSP.
Also joining the episode is Dr. Rizason Ng who will discuss the health benefits of play therapy, especially for kids.
