A sports analyst has called on the government to establish a Department of Sports to address the ongoing challenges and disorganization within Philippine sports agencies. The suggestion comes in the wake of various issues encountered by Filipino athletes during the Paris Olympic Games.
Ed Tolentino, a lawyer and sports analyst, highlighted the overlapping responsibilities of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), which he believes leads to inefficiencies in managing the athletes’ needs and resources.
“This is the problem of Philippine sports. Too many cooks are spoiling the broth. It would be better if there was one authority in charge,” Tolentino said in an interview on TeleRadyo Serbisyo.
Tolentino pointed out that the 2025 proposed government budget allocates only around P700 million to the PSC, which is significantly less than its P1.152 billion budget for 2024. He emphasized the need for increased support, especially after the Philippines secured two gold medals at the recent Olympics, courtesy of gymnast Carlos Yulo.
The controversies surrounding the athletes included logistical issues, such as the late arrival of uniforms for golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan, who had to improvise by attaching a Philippine flag patch to their shirts. Officials have since apologized for the oversight.
Tolentino stressed that sports remains a “least priority” for the government and reiterated his call for the establishment of a Department of Sports. He believes this would ensure better coordination, reduce political interference, and provide clearer support for athletes.
“Sports only gets attention when there’s a gold medal,” Tolentino remarked, underscoring the need for a more consistent and structured approach to supporting Filipino athletes.
