By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Sportscaster Noli Eala is ready to take the challenge as the new chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“Blessed. Honored. Grateful. Excited. Time to serve. Let’s get to work,” Eala said on his social media following his appointment Tuesday, Aug. 30.
Eala will serve as the 11th chairman of the government sports agency, succeeding Butch Ramirez who served under President Duterte’s administration.
A former PBA commissioner from 2003 to 2007, Eala is expected to have a busy first year with major tournaments piled up in 2023 that include the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi, Thailand and several qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Prior to his appointment, the PSC had already proposed a total budget of over P546 million to the Department of Budget and Management for five of the nine major sports events that the national athletes would participate in next year.
Eala is expected to report for duty on Thursday, Sept. 1.
He will work alongside bowling legend Bong Coo, who was appointed as one of the commissioners of the sports agency last month.
The remaining three appointees are expected to be announced this week.
