CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Representative Joseller Guiao has filed a resolution at the House of Representatives directing the committee on youth and sports to assess and evaluate the performance of the Philippine contingent to the recently concluded 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore.
The assessment and evaluation aims to determine what more can be done to improve Filipino athletes' preparations for international competitions and for other possible remedial actions, the resolution stated.
Guiao filed the resolution after he noted that the result of the 2014 Asian Games and the 2015 SEA Games were among of the lowest gold medal hauls for the country.
The Philippines sent a total of 466 athletes to Singapore, double the 210 athletes sent to the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, he said.
"Out of the 402 gold medals to play for in Singapore, the Philippines was reportedly eyeing to bring home 45 to 50 gold medals with the goal of exceeding the 41 Gold Medals earned by the country in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand. But when the dust settled, so to speak, the Philippines picked up only 29 gold, 36 silver, and 66 bronze medals on the way to a sixth place finish and only equaling our gold medal tally in the 2013 SEA Games," Guiao said.
The Philippines used to be in the top finishers during the 70s and early 80s.
Guiao said the campaign should be an eye-opener for Philippine sports officials "on the need to go back to the drawing board to determine what else can be done to improve performance in sports competitions."
He added that with limited resources, there may be a need to refocus attention on specific athletes rather than focusing on priority sports, thus improving chances of getting more medals in international competitions.
Guiao stressed the need to review the training and support given to athletes by the Philippine Sports Commission and private sponsors, through their individual national sports associations, to find out appropriate interventions.
"Time and again, while our skilled Filipino athletes battle for honor and for country in international competitions, we have to make sure that appropriate support mechanisms are really in place to help them achieve their goals of earning medals in these competitions," he said. (JTD)