Villanueva: Bicam approval of PH Sports Training Center to optimize dev't of Filipino athletes

Senator Joel Villanueva, vice chairperson of the Senate committee on sports, hailed on Wednesday the bicameral conference committee approval of a proposed measure seeking to establish the Philippine Sports Training Center or the 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).

"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," Villanueva said.

"Being a former national athlete who competed in the very first Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament in 1994, this bill is very close to my heart. We are truly elated that this measure is closer to becoming a law which will optimize the development of our Filipino athletes," the senator added.

The funding of P3.5 billion 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.

"It is about time that we build a home for our future champions who bring nothing but pride and honor to this country," Villanueva said.