24 Phl coaches promoted, get PSC salary upgrade

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion and salary upgrade of 24 more national coaches under its new classification scheme for mentors.

Leading the newly promoted were Anthony Lopez of golf, Alexius Patano of pencak silat, and Camilo Apdon of sepak takraw, who are now “head coach B” level with a monthly salary of P25,000.

Upgraded to “head coach C” status were Roel Velasco, Ronald Chavez and Vicente Arcenal of boxing, Edmond San Pedro (aquatics), Reynaldo Reyes (bowling), Virginia Indon (gymnastics), Danilo Crosby (judo), Ma. Remedios Fidel (sailing), and Henberd Ortalla (table tennis). They are now entitled to P20,000 a month.

Twelve more members of the national coaches staff have been upgraded to “assistant coaches” with a monthly remuneration of P15,000.

The 24 represented the second batch of coaches who rose to a higher class and gained pay hikes as per the PSC’s classification system based on coaching experience, medals produced, practical and theoretical skills, etc.

An initial batch of 47 coaches was earlier reclassified and promoted under this scheme.

“This novel scheme enables us to assess the strengths and weaknesses of our coaches and guide the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the National Sports Associations (NSAs) in developing the full potential of our coaches,” said PSC chairman Richie Garcia.

“It cannot be overemphasized that with better equipped coaches, the performance of our national athletes will rise to higher levels,” he added.

According to the PSC, 35 percent of the national coaches in the government’s payroll have produced medalists at the world/continental level competitions. At the same time, 35 percent have delivered at the Southeast Asian Games and regionals and 30 percent at nationals.

Fifty three percent have at least 10 years of coaching experience as compared to 47 percent with less than 10 years.

As to educational background, degree holders and non-degree holders are almost even (49 percent to 51 percent).

Likewise 17 percent have attended more than 10 seminars and 83 percent went to less than 10.

Twenty-four percent are “strong on the practical side and weak on theory”, two percent are “weak on practical and strong on theory” while another two percent are “strong on both practical and theory.” The remaining 72 percent are neither strong nor weak on both the practical and theoretical aspects.