Ramirez personally accepted the award and was very grateful to the president for recognizing the valuable work the sports agency had done for the Filipino athletes.
Earlier, Ramirez hoped his successor as the head of the country's sports program would continue the grassroots program of the agency.
Speaking before the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, Ramirez said the grassroots program of the PSC, wherein the agency focuses on developing athletes from the barangay level, is very effective in creating champions like Tokyo Olympics weightlifting gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz.
“We have to rely on our grassroots programs. Hidilyn Diaz is a hardworking girl…the process is very long,” Ramirez said.
Before becoming an Olympic champion, Diaz, a Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City resident, started her career in her city until perseverance, hard work, and training made her a superstar athlete.
Ramirez said while recruiting heritage athletes is not bad, it is just a band-aid solution in the quest to win medals in international sports competitions.
He said it is best to develop athletes while they are still young to give their full potential in the future.
He revealed that Diaz is a prized find from the PSC’s Batang Pinoy, a sports competition among Filipino athletes not older than 15.
“If you don’t plant anything, you won’t harvest anything,” the 72-year-old Ramirez added.
Ramirez said that under his leadership, PSC invested P600 million in elite sports in 2016, P800 million in 2017, and more than P1 billion in 2019.
The top honcho of PSC said once his term ends, he will return to Davao and spend more time with his family.
“I’m ready to return to Davao [his hometown], but I’m willing to be an adviser and share my experience and know-how with the incoming PSC leadership,” he said. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
Photo: PSC