Teodoro to sports leaders: Get along, get a plan

By Jasmine W. Payo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:26:00 01/13/2010



Filed Under: Politics, Elections, Eleksyon 2010, Sports Organisations


Original Story: http://sports.inquirer.net/amateur/amateur/view/20100113-247028/Teodoro-to-sports-leaders-Get-along-get-a-plan


THERE WERE NO feel-good mission statements.

But a pragmatic approach, according to presidential candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, could be the means to a successful national sports program.

“The first plan for sports is to get the sports leaders to get a plan. Get along and get a plan,” said Teodoro, the guest of honor in Tuesday’s inauguration of several new venues operated by the Philippine Sports Commission at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“[From a national standpoint], you can’t prioritize competitive sports,” Teodoro admitted. “There are other aspects that are essential right now. We’re rebuilding infrastructure that are essential to life, not merely to development. And then after that, we can prioritize sports the way we mean it.

“It’s easy to say I will prioritize sports, but where will I get the money at the end of the day? You know as well as I do, that’s the dilemma. There’s so much that we can do for sports, there’s so much potential for Filipinos, but it’s a resource question. And I’m being as honest as possible.”

But Teodoro said the scenario, no matter how grim, shouldn’t hinder sports officials from developing ways to achieve RP’s first Olympic gold.

“All the departments are underspending because of the fact that government revenues are limited; [so] encourage the different potential benefactors in sports,” said Teodoro, who has “dabbled in several sports” such as soccer, swimming, tennis, practical shooting, basketball, golf and taekwondo.

“I cannot dictate a plan to [local sports officials]. They have to come up with a workable plan of action where, probably, we can convince Congress and the private sector in a tripartite capacity to fund it, with the goal of winning a gold in the 2012 Olympics.”


Original Story: http://sports.inquirer.net/amateur/amateur/view/20100113-247028/Teodoro-to-sports-leaders-Get-along-get-a-plan