PSC limits funding to qualified athletes

Another deadlock looms as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) maintained that it would not fund athletes who are not eligible to compete in the 18th Asian Games.

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez yesterday said they would carefully scrutinize the final roster that would be submitted to the Indonesian organizers this weekend to make sure only those who passed the criteria would be funded by the government.

Based on the criteria approved by both the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) last January, only those who won either a gold or a silver medal in the previous Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur will go.

POC treasurer Julian Camacho, the Asian Games chief of mission before Jose “Peping” Cojuangco lost the POC presidency to Ricky Vargas in a court-ordered election last February, also gave slots to athletes who won a medal in the previous Asian Games in Incheon as well as to those who have sterling performance in a world or continental meet.

Based on Fernandez’s calculation, around 30 to 40 of the 281 athletes listed by new chief of mission Richard Gomez and deputies Robert Bachmann and Manny Cabili did not make the grade.

With that, the PSC made a stand that it would not fund their participation in Asia’s biggest athletic conclave set to fire off on Aug. 18 at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.

“We just had a board meeting and it was one of the matters that we discussed,” said Fernandez, who is reportedly set to be appointed as acting PSC chairman in the absence of suspended PSC chief William “Butch” Ramirez.

“We decided that we have to stick to the original criteria of the POC and fund the Asian Games participation of those who passed the grade. It is our duty to protect the people’s money and make sure that only the best and brightest will be funded.”

Funding is the major problem in this Asian Games preparation.

In its earlier statement, the PSC had stressed it would not release the P72-million budget earmarked for the event unless the POC files a liquidation report on the P10.3-million financial assistance handed during the country’s participation in the SEA Games last year.

Aside from that, national sports associations (NSAs) with outstanding unliquidated expenses will also be barred from receiving financial support.

Tribune obtained the list of federations with outstanding balances and it reflects a total of P126 million has yet to be liquidated, including the P8.2 million and P8.1 million of wrestling and cycling, respectively.

“Their request had been approved, but we can’t release it yet because COA (Commission on Audit) would run after us,” Fernandez said, adding they are very much willing to help NSAs in clearing their respective accounts.

“We told those NSAs that if they really want to send their athletes to Asian Games, they can advance the payment for airfare, board and lodging and allowance. Then, if ever they win a medal of any color, we will gladly reimburse all their expenses.”