MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission and La Salle signed a memorandum of agreement the other day, paving the way for the establishment of a sports academy and the conversion of the Rizal Memorial track and field into a football stadium.
“Our partnership with La Salle is not only about the renovation and improvement of the field, but more so on the establishment of the academy,” said PSC chair Harry Angping, led the MOA signing rites with La Salle chancellor Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC.
The academy is aimed at helping retired and underprivileged athletes get basic education.
PSC commissioners Fr. Vic Uy, SVD, Joey Mundo and Akiko Thomson and La Salle’s Office of Sports Development head Bro. Bernie Oca, FSC, and other La Salle officials also graced the event.
A groundbreaking ceremony is set on May 7 while the formal opening of the La Salle-PSC sports academy is tentatively set in August.
“We feel that it would be one sector that the La Sallian family would also like to reach out to, recognizing that many of them (athletes) may be forgotten after their good years in sports,” Luistro said.
The academy will be housed at the two towers of the Rizal Memorial Track Stadium facing Adriatico extension.
The national athletes who would be displaced would be transferred to the quarters being refurbished inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Oca said the courses to be offered will enable retired athletes to become future trainers, instructors, referees and umpires, and sports administrators, and professionals in their respective fields in sports.
La Salle is expected to spend P8 million to convert the old track and field oval into a state-of-the-art football field.