WORLD Archery Philippines has come up with a comprehensive four-year performance plan to “establish a sustainable pool of Filipino archers and coaches” with the ultimate aim of producing a competitive national archery team in the years ahead.
WAP president Atty. Clint Aranas said the plan was approved in a recent meeting of the WAP board and adjusted slightly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aranas, who is running for the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee against incumbent president and Rep. Bambol Tolentino in the Nov. 27 polls, said the plan is a “step-by-step course” beginning with the reorganization of WAP’s grassroots programs in the countryside.
“This will be geared towards producing world-class archers and a network of national and international level coaches,” he said, adding that this will be attained through the WAP’s partnerships with the POC, Philippine Sports Commission, local government units and the aid of private sponsors.
He said the WAP also intends to strengthen and enhance its relationships with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to raise the profile of archery among student athletes.
The WAP identified seven priorities or programs for the plan to succeed, according to the former Government Surety and Insurance System president and chief operating officer.
These are the “resident athlete program,” creating scholarships/grants for student-athletes, training and accrediting regional coaches and setting up regional training centers, ways in transitioning athletes to coaches and creating job opportunities for them, a coaching education system, strengthening the developmental or junior pool, and securing the funds in sustaining them.
Since recurve archery is an Olympic sport, the WAP intends to have a permanent pool of eight athletes — four men and four women — who will be properly equipped and trained for international competition with the assistance of the PSC and private sponsors.
“We also hope to identify institutions from high school to college who can grant our up-and-coming archers scholarships and grants while they continue to train and practice since they also have a proper education and a future to look forward to once they are through with their sports careers,” Aranas said.
