Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann

(left-right) PSC Mindanao Coordinator Noli Ayo, PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann, UPMin Chancellor Lyre Murao, PSC chief of staff Nino Urquiaga

seated clockwise from top left: Asst. Prof. Abarca, Inst. Camia, Coach Ayo, Chairman Bachmann, Chancellor Murao, Chief Urquiaga, Asst. Prof. Protacio

Chairperson Abarca, Vice-Chancellor Estana, Chairman Bachmann, Chancellor Murao, Coach Ayo, Instructor Camia, Director Protacio

The UP Mindanao administration welcomed Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard E. Bachmann at the UP Mindanao-Davao City Sports Complex on January 20, 2024. 

They discussed the proposed Isports Scholar Program for UP Mindanao students and the goal of the PSC to expand its reach to the BARMM, the Caraga region, and the Indigenous People's communities through various programs.

The PSC Chairman also pledged support for House Bill 6143, “The Mindanao Sports Development Training and Research Institute,” and the creation of the UP Mindanao College of Sports and Human Movement Sciences.

The PSC Chairman was accompanied by Coach Noli Ayo, PSC Coordinator for Mindanao, and the Chairmain's Chief of Staff Niño Deo R. Urquiaga, and was received by UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao, Vice Chancellor for Administration Asst. Prof. Leo Estaña, Department of Human Kinetics Chairperson Asst. Prof. Jezreel M. Abarca, Varsity Coordinator Ms. Cherry Ann C. Camia, Extension Director Asst. Prof. Erwin E. Protacio, and Ar. Modesto Tolentino.

The collaboration between UPMin and the PSC addresses the Sustainable Development Goal #3 on Good Health and Wellbeing, and SDG #4 on Quality Education. 

 

 

 

Feature Story: UPMin welcomes scholarship from Sports Commission chair

 

UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao and her team welcomed the assurance given by Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard E. Bachmann to implement the PSC scholarships for UP Mindanao students enrolled in sports programs.

“We would like to thank PSC for being one of those partners who have helped us,” said Chancellor Murao. “We hope to find more ways to strengthen our partnership for our sports program in UP Mindanao,” she said. 

Chairman Bachmann gave his assurance after reviewing “PSC Resolution 166-2022: PSC Isports Iskolar, Scholarships in Sports Education for Peace and Development in Mindanao” during his visit on January 20, 2024.

“It’s my one year in the PSC, and we are visiting the local government units and their sports facilities for developing athletes and sports locally,” he said. “Gone are the days when athletes had to stay in Metro Manila for training,” he said. 

“Having the UP-Davao City Sports Complex here is good for this reason, and I will pull up this scholarship resolution as soon as I get back to my office,” said Chairman Bachmann. 

Both the PSC and UPMin teams agreed that the proposed Isports Iskolar Program could be extended to deserving student-athletes from BARMM, the Caraga Region, and the Indigenous Peoples communities.

Chancellor Murao expressed her appreciation for the alignment of both UPMin's and the PSC’s directions. 

“Our sports programs are in support of the Davao City-UP Sports Complex. We want to upgrade it, and we feel that the most sustainable way to do that is through our academic programs,” she said.

UPMin presently offers the Associate in Arts in Sports Studies, the Bachelor of Sports Science, the Diploma in Exercise and Sports Science, and the Master of Science in Human Movement Sciences, she said.  

“We want to build an ecosystem for sports, starting with secondary schools that will serve as feeders to our sports programs and varsity teams all the way to sports meets, which will be our beneficiaries,” she said. 

She reported that UPMin presently has feeder arrangements with the National Academy of Sports and sports track agreements with two national high schools: Calinan National High School and AL Navarro National High School. These UPMin efforts have developed medalists for arnis and a national athlete for archery.   

UP Mindanao also sought the PSC Chairman’s support for the House of Representatives Bill 6143, named “The Mindanao Sports Development Training and Research Institute,” which the chairman agreed to take up in his upcoming meeting with some congressmen. 

The PSC Chairman also expressed support for the creation of the UP Mindanao College of Sports and Human Movement Sciences. 

The UPMin and PSC delegations also discussed the current UPMin sports events, among which are football, volleyball, swimming, table tennis, badminton, and chess, to which the PSC chair suggested adding more from among the 75 sports that the PSC supports. 

The PSC team also asked UPMin to promote indigenous games and arnis.UPMin took the opportunity to showcase its successful Arnis program and through the Arnis Sports Academy. The UPMin Arnis team has won medals in various events and has been supported by Senator Miguel Zubiri. 

UP Mindanao supports the development of Mindanao sports through sports education. These programs are anchored to the Sustainable Development Goals on Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, and Partnership for the Goals, among others. 

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Written by Rene Estremera, Public Relations Officer, UP Mindanao

Edited by Angela Sucaldito, Junior Media Production Assistant, UP Mindanao