Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Funds, new talents sought
AFTER a lackluster performance at the 29th Olympic Games, the country’s top sports officials cited the need to increase financial support and modernize training as possible ways to redeem our standing in the 2012 Games in London.
Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella, also the Chief of Mission of the 15-man Team Philippines, yesterday said he will lead the move at the House of Representatives that will clarify the 5 percent share of the PSC from the Pagcor.
“The solution to this sports problem is proper budgeting. Therefore, I am appealing to my colleagues in Congress to support this move of giving back to the PSC their usual 5 percent share based on gross and not on net income,” said Puentevella.
Confident
Puentevella, who is also the Philippine Weighlifting Association president expressed confidence the move to restore the original share of the PSC based on gross after deduction of franchise tax will gain support from the members of the August hall.
“If we can restore it to the original computation, the budget of the PSC will be doubled, which will be almost enough to fund an Olympic program geared towards the 2012 Games,” said Puentevella at the PSA Sports Forum at the Shakeys UN Ave. in Malate.
He said that the PSC and POC will meet with all stakeholders in sports on Sept. 4 in Subic, to map out a program of redemption in 2012.
For his part, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez saw the need to fully revitalize the Philippine Institute for Sports as the solution to the country’s sports ills.
“If you try to diagnose Philippine sports, the prescription is the Institute of Sports,” said Ramirez in the same forum.
Ramirez cited proper nutrition, scientific training such as bio-mechanic, sports psychology and high level program as among that the PSI can provide to uplift the standard of trainin for Filipino athletes.
New talents
He said that the 46 National Sports Associations (NSAs) should also start discarding old athletes from the ranks and develop new talents, who can provide new hope for the country in any international competitions including the Olympics.
“Those who have to be removed because of old age, they should now get rid of them now. The NSAs should try to understand that there are younger ones who are just waiting to be given a chance,” added Ramirez.
To embark on a long term program that will redeem the country’s pride in sports, a huge amount of P1 billion is needed to be spent for the elite training including foreign exposures and grassroot development, according to Ramirez.
“This can be breakdown into P500 million for elite training and foreign exposures and P500 for grassroot program,” he stressed. (Frank Calapre)
