THE 17-member Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) board, including its President Dr. Philip Ella Juico, recently received a fresh mandate to lead the federation which laid out its objectives for the Olympic cycle.
The officials said that they will reboot the body’s Olympic program by reaffirming the PATAFA, World Athletics and Olympic values of honesty, transparency, ethical use of science, hard work and the judicious use of its resources for its athletes’ success and character development.
Besides Juico, a former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman and member of various governance and integrity commissions of the then International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as the World Athletics, also re-elected was House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez as chairman.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go remained as honorary chairman, while businessman Rommel Sytin was named secretary-general.
Also elected were Agapito Capistrano , executive vice president; Atty. Melinda Diaz-Salcedo, corporate secretary; Engr. Noel Silva, treasurer; and Elmer Ngo, auditor.
Named as trustees were former Oriental Mindoro Governor Dr. Benjamin Espiritu, Cebu businessman Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jr., Ilagan City Mayor Josemarie Diaz, sportsman Rafaelito Villavicencio, Joseph Anton Bengzon, Jaime Villegas, Datu Yusoph Mama, Dr. Guillermo Torres Jr., Atty Roberto Uy and former PATAFA President Go Teng Kok.
Juico said that the board will again emphasize its said core values in its decisions as “times continue to change rapidly especially with the vast improvement seen in the Filipino athletes recently that, coupled with the advancements in training, science and opportunities, offers a lot of chances for our elite athletes.”