Bicam OKs bill establishing Philippine Sports Training Center

The bicameral conference committee approved on Wednesday a bill seeking to establish the Philippine Sports Training Center (PSTC).

In the consolidated versions of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the PSTC shall include training facilities for Olympic sports and other sports activities as deemed significant and necessary by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

The P3.5-billion funding shall be appropriated and included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Any other amount necessary to carry out the provision of the Act shall be included in the budget of the PSC in the GAA.

Senator Joel Villanueva, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, hailed the bicam approval of the proposed measure.

"We thank the Senate sports committee chair Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the principal author of this measure, Sen. Sonny Angara, and all the authors in both Houses for supporting this measure," he said.

Villanueva, a former national athlete who competed in the first Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament in 1994, said bill is very close to his heart.

"We are truly elated that this measure is closer to becoming a law which will optimize the development of our Filipino athletes," he said.

"It is about time that we build a home for our future champions who bring nothing but pride and honor to this country." —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News