Philippine Daily Inquirer sports editor Francis Ochoa has been elected president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), the country’s oldest media organization.

Ochoa takes over from Philippine STAR sports editor Nelson Beltran, whose term saw the PSA soar to newer heights.

Jasmine Payo, the Rappler sports editor, was named vice president while Manila Bulletin sports editor Ramon Bonilla was appointed secretary general.

The other officers, who will serve a two-year term, are Spin.PH’s Gerry Ramos (treasurer), Abante Tonite’s Ramil Cruz (auditor) and Manila Times’ Emil Noguera (assistant secretary).

Beltran will assume the post of chairman of the board, which will include sports editors Julius Manicad of DAILY TRIBUNE, Dodo Catacutan of Spin.PH, Rey Lachica of Tempo, Jun Lomibao of Business Mirror, Riera Mallari of Manila Standard, Jimmy Cantor of Malaya, Celest Flores-Colina of Inquirer.net, Dino Maragay of PhilStar.com, Ed Andaya of People’s Tonight, Ferds delos Santos of Abante and Beth Repizo of Pilipino Star Ngayon.

Assistant sports editors Musong Castillo of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Abac Cordero of Philippine STAR will also be part of the board.

Born in Cagayan de Oro but also tracing his roots to Cebu, Ochoa has been the sports editor of the Inquirer for nearly a decade. He is also active in the journalism lecture circuit.

Among his plans is to fully implement the PSA Charter drafted and approved during the Beltran administration and further enhancing the PSA’s public relevance.

The PSA board will be formed into several committees that will further push the group’s projects and agenda.

The new officers and board will be inducted on Tuesday after the weekly PSA Forum.