Palarong Pambansa dapat na ireporma —Mequi

TINULIGSA ni dating Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Aparicio Mequi ang kawalang saysay at hindi na napapanahon na pagsasagawa ng taunang Palarong Pambansa gayundin ang mga national sports associations (NSAs) at mismong Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Inihayag mismo ni Mequi, ang ikalawang naupo na PSC Chairman, ang malalalim na kritisismo sa ginanap naman na National Consultative Meeting On Development Plan for Philippine Sports and Set-up of Philippine Sports Institute sa Multi-Purpose Arena sa PhilSports, Pasig City.

“What has been produced in the 58th years of staging Palarong Pambansa?” sabi ni Mequi. “Does the organizer realize they need to reassess and reinvent the tournament to be of help to the national sports development. We need to reform Palarong Pambansa,” sabi ni Mequi, na naging director noon ng BPESS.

Ikinatuwa naman ni Mequi ang pagkokonsentra ng PSC sa mga programa nito sa iba’t-ibang sector bagaman mas nakatuon ito sa pagpapalakas at pagpapalawak sa grassroots sports development at mga kabataan.

Gayunman, hindi rin nakaligtas kay Mequi ang kakulangan sa paghahanap ng mahuhusay na mga pambansang atleta na responsibilidad ng mga NSAs at sa pamumuno ng POC.

“Unless there are reforms in the NSAs and the POC, we can achieve more,” sabi pa ni Mequi. “As Indira Gandhi said, ‘Unless we want to start lasting peace, let’s start it with the children. Also, as The Great Teacher said, ‘Where are the children? Don’t hinder them to come to me, for they will inherit the kingdom of heaven.’”

“We should become children again, only to realize that there lies the foundation of our success in sports.”