Monico Puentevella, chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, reportedly is recommending that a public statue to honor national icon Manny Pacquiao be erected.

Puentevella mentioned a number of possible locations and said the government should have the first opportunity to oversee the project.

“He’s the symbol of excellence for every Filipino,” Puentevella was quoted as saying by the Inquirer Sports in the Philippines. “In my capacity as POC chairman, and as friend to Pacquiao, I recommend that we build a statue like the one they build for (Oscar) De La Hoya, (Michael) Jordan, Joe Louis and Rocky Balboa.”

Puentevella also raised the possibility of Pacquiao carrying his country’s flag in the 2012 London Olympics.

RingTV.com has only one question: What took so long?