Sprucing up of government sports facilities are on track and will be available for use even before the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez is satisfied with the pace of the development projects ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte, which involved the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the National Historical Institute (NHI). Ramirez said other sports facilities all around the country will also be refurbished in the future, adding that the rehabilitation of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, the Philsports Sports Complex in Pasig and the Teachers’ Camp in Baguio have long been listed as President Duterte’s priority projects even before the country made sure of its commitment to host the 30th SEA Games. “The President is also a sportsman. He played basketball, rides bikes, shoots, swims and many more,” Ramirez said. “Sports is among his priorities when he was elected President of the republic and his marching order to the PSC was to rehabilitate sports venues to benefit our athletes.” “These rehabilitation projects have been in the pipeline of President Duterte’s primary concerns when he agreed to seek the presidency before a small group of loyal supporters in Davao City. He said ‘let us prioritize the athletes,’ and this is it. It has always been part of the masterplan” Ramirez said. (PSC)