Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 9) — The House Committee on Youth and Sports Development on Tuesday approved four bills that seek to replace Palarong Pambansa with the Philippine National Games as the government’s premier national sports competition.
The panel also tackled the consolidation of House Bills 934, 1954, 2986 and 4881 which propose measures for funding and plans that will institutionalize the Philippine National Games.
According to Leyte Fourth District Rep. and HB 934 author Richard Gomez, the consolidated bill, which will be titled the Philippine National Games Act of 2022, “aims to up the ante of the Palarong Pambansa by utilizing the LGUs (local government units) to cater to its local athletes and help them in competing within their chosen sport through various national tournaments and programs.”
“With the cooperation of both the public and private sectors in the field of sports, the Philippine National Games shall serve as the training ground for budding athletes,” he added.
Gomez said the league would be held “every event year or biennial event” and would be governed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Panel members also agreed on a ₱200-million budget for the league and 1% annual Internal Revenue Allotment from the respective LGUs.
“Building on the growing support for the field of sports in the country, it is pivotal that the country discovers and develops its local talents in every sport,” Gomez said.
In HB 934’s explanatory note, Gomez and Malasakit@Bayanihan party-list Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. underscored the role of LGUs in the promotion of sports which Filipino athletes have been excelling in such as billiards, bowling, fencing, weightlifting, shooting, and rowing.
The lawmakers also mentioned cycling, gymnastics, track and field, volleyball, archery, badminton, boxing, football, taekwondo, karate, jujitsu, judo, golf, table tennis, tennis, baseball, and softball among the sports which Filipinos could improve on.
