PSC has no funds for sorties outside of SEAG, AG
DUE to budgetary constraints, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will not be able to fund international sorties outside the Hanoi Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games (AG) this year.
PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez, the country’s chef de mission to the Hanoi tilt set May 12-23, said they have only enough money to bankroll the Southeast Asian Games and the Asiad slated Sept. 10-25.
To date, the country has only P121 million — P71 million from what was left last year and P50 million allotted by the Department of Budget and Management this year — to fuel the country’s Hanoi campaign.
“Based on experience, I think it will not be enough to shoulder the 626 athletes and hundreds more coaches and officials the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) has recommended to send to Hanoi,” said Mr. Fernandez.
The Asian Games has been allotted P70 million by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) while P50 million have been given for Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which was reset next year.
The DBM had given the PSC P200 million for SEA Games use last year, but P139 million were already spent in training and uniforms among others, leaving it with just P71 million.
But the SEA Games was eventually rescheduled.
“That’s why we have to sit down with the POC to discuss the matter and what should be done,” said Mr. Fernandez. — Joey Villar
