SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano urged lawmakers to consider the budget of the Philippine Sports Commission as investment in the future of Filipino youth and in the country’s sports industry.

Cayetano appealed for a greater state spending on grassroots sports programs to develop future athletes and grow the audience of more professional leagues in different sports.

“There comes a point wherein sports become so integrated in a society that the money from commercial sources will take over. Ngayon ang problema natin kasi is mahina yung grassroots training dahil walang pera,” Cayetano said.

“Pero darating ang time na kapag sobrang part na of daily life ang sports dito sa atin, mag-aagawan ang advertisers kung sino ang popondo nito,” he added.

Cayetano asked Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, and PSC officials to present a comprehensive grassroots campaign sports development program which should be reflected in future budget proposals.

“Give us a plan and the figures that go with it para maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan na hindi lang dapat elite athletes [ang sinusuportahan]. Dapat kung may nakitaan ka pa lang na galing, may pondong nakahanda na,” he said.

While Go clarified that around P30 million will be allocated for the PSC’s existing Batang Pinoy grassroots sports program, he also acknowledged that the total budget of the commission is not enough to cover the expenses for manpower and maintenance of sports facilities.

Cayetano pointed out that investing in sports infrastructure is crucial in developing the country’s sports industry because these provide training facilities for budding athletes.

“Maglagay tayo ng pondo for developing these facilities. Dapat may involvement kayo for supervision. Lalaki ang sports industry at hindi tayo nagtatapon ng pera kasi it develops our children. Even if you look at it from a commercial point of view, babalik ang pera,” he said.

Both Senators Alan and Senator Pia Cayetano argued for greater state support for a nationwide grassroots sports program to be administered by the PSC, with Senator Alan saying that sports is essential in developing a strong character among Filipino youth.

“Ang sports ay sagot sa maraming problema – paglaban sa droga at kakulangan ng teamwork. Y’ung disiplina, passion, sacrifice – lahat natutunan sa sports,” he said.