TWO self-confessed “sports advocate” lawmakers have urged the government to focus on making the Philippines a “powerhouse” for sports by placing it under the economic sector.
In their statements, Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred de los Santos and Manila Rep. Joel Chua floated the idea after Gilas Pilipinas aims to shoot for an Olympic berth as it fights Brazil in the knockout semifinals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Yago Santos of Brazil (C) in action during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament semi final match Brazil vs Philippines in Riga, Latvia 06 July 2024. EPA-EFE/TOMS KALNINS
De los Santos said that Gilas’ experience in Latvia would be the reality check Philippine sports needed to chart its future.
He urged the government to recognize and put an intensive focus on the sports economy, as it can be lined up in the same category as national development priorities such as agriculture, services, manufacturing, infrastructure, and information technology.
“By treating the sports sector as a Sports Economy, the government and the private sector can pour into it the massive investments needed to elevate the Philippines to a sports powerhouse in Asia and the world,” de los Santos said.
Investing in sports will allow the country to “level up” its medal harvests in the Olympics, World Championships and regional competitions.
“Massive investments by the private sector and government are what will sustain our athletes during training and ensure a decent quality of life until retirement and for their families,” de los Santos said.
Chua said that investments were important so that Filipino basketball athletes would be familiar with the international style of play.
“The Philippine Sports Commission needs long-term private investors as partners. Some of the National Sports Associations and leagues are on the right path, but they also need new investments in sports human capital,” Chua said.
He urged the National Economic and Development Authority to recognize, promote and support a sports economy in the country, while the Board of Investments should “do more” than just grant incentives to and promote investments in the creation of sports equipment, apparel and supplies.
“We need a local industry that massively produces the major components of the sports sector’s value chain, including the athletes from the grassroots up,” Chua said.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority and free ports should create ecozones and investment locators that would provide services and facilities needed to train athletes sent abroad to compete, while the Department of Migrant Workers should recognize Filipino athletes training overseas as overseas Filipino workers, Chua suggested.
“To the Department of Finance, I say we need policies that promote investments in sports as human capital, that invite more companies engaged in the sports economy to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission as businesses,” Chua said.
He also pushed for lifting salary caps among athletes by inviting foreign and local investors to introduce new teams and partner with existing teams, as well as creating new sports leagues.
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