OUTGOING Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann said he is leaving the government agency in good hands with the appointment of Patrick Gregorio as its new chief.
In a statement on Monday, Bachmann expressed his fulfilment towards his initiatives during his administration that will benefit the Filipino athletes.
“I leave the Philippine Sports Commission with a deep sense of fulfillment. I thank the hardworking men and women of the PSC, our national athletes and coaches, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and everyone who has contributed to uplifting Philippine sports,” said Bachmann.
READ: Patrick Gregorio replaces Richard Bachmann as PSC chairman
“Together, we have implemented policies to strengthen our grassroots and elite athlete programs, delivered organizational optimization for the PSC, and secured significant budget increases from the recent years which benefit all sports stakeholders and empower individuals to achieve their dreams. Major infrastructure projects are also on-going that aim to improve athlete welfare and provide state-of-the-art training facilities in the long run, he added.
Bachmann is set to leave his post after three years, submitting his courtesy resignation upon the directive of President Marcos Jr. across all Cabinet members and heads of government agencies last month.
Following the acceptance of the Chief Executive of Bachmann’s courtesy resignation, Gregorio is set to take over the PSC on Tuesday.
“I am excited to see the Philippines continue to achieve even greater milestones in the future. I wish my successor, Mr. John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, all the best in continuing the mission we all deeply believe in,” said Bachmann.
The former PBA player and executive said he is honored to be part of the recent accomplishments of Philippine sports under his watch including the Paris Olympics where Carlos Yulo captured two gold medals for the country, and the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China where the men’s curling team secured the nation’s first-ever gold medal.
“In line with the President’s directive to all Cabinet members and Heads of Agencies, I submitted my courtesy resignation a month ago. This decision was made in good faith, with full respect for the President's authority and prerogative," he said.
“The most fulfilling part of public service is witnessing the potential of Filipinos to reach historic achievements. I am deeply grateful to have been part of remarkable milestones in Philippine sports. Our collective efforts have brought joy, inspiration, and strength to the Filipino people," he added.
"The country’s impressive performance in the Paris 2024 Olympics inspired the nation, especially as we celebrated the centennial year of Philippine participation in this prestigious event. Philippine sports also demonstrated its growing dynamics with our men’s curling team securing the nation’s first-ever gold in any winter multi-sporting event through the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.”
Bachmann also said that the PSC, under his watch, has built a strong foundation in the grassroots through the Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games, brought inclusiveness through the Philippine National Para Games and Women in Sports, mobilize communities through the Laro’t Saya Program, and preserved Philippine culture through the Indigenous Peoples Games, and Safe Sport.
“We have also stressed the potential of the Philippines as one of the global sporting destinations with our excellent hosting of prestigious tournaments including the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 ICF Dragonboat World Championships, among others," he continued.
"Currently, the country’s historic hostings of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships, the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, and the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Junior Championships are just around the corner. This has further cemented the capacity of the country as a global sports tourism hub."
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