Cash-starved PSC adopts belt-tightening schemes

Faced with a thinning budget against a growing financial requirement brought about by preparations for the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) yesterday said it will limit its expenses to the minimum to be able to fund its projects for the year.

Chairman Eric Buhain said measures were put in place "to wisely manage" the PSC’s funding, whose source is limited to the P105 million the PSC will expect from the General Appropriations Fund and about P350 million as shares from the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

"The PSC doesn’t have that much money to spend, especially now that there is no more limit to our participation in the SEA Games. We have to give our athletes their needed preparation and exposure for the Vietnam Games, and hopefully, it would help us gain in the 2004 Athens Olympics, 2005 RP SEA Games and the next Asian Games," Buhain added. "Yun ang target natin, to help them prepare for the next three big events."

Buhain admitted the amount the PSC expects to get from the Pagcor and PCSO as part of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) would not suffice to fund the country’s preparation and participation in the SEA Games.

"That’s why we are all out in encouraging support from the private sector," said Buhain. "Right now, we are in the process of, again, starting talks with some top private corporations for support."

The PSC, last year, had electronics giant Samsung as partner in sending 218 athletes to the Busan Asian Games, where the Philippines had its best finish in 36 years with three gold, seven silver and 16 bronze medals.

Expected to be affected by the measure is the 15th Asian Athletic Championships, which Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) president Go Teng Kok recently launched and said would cost P30 million to host. Go proposed a "half-half" deal and requested P15 million from the PSC.

Go said more than 500 athletes and 300 officials are expected to participate in the four-day event set Sept. 20-23.

"We will definitely support the AAA Championship," Buhain said. "We will give ample assistance, but not that much."

Go also requested the PSC to refurbish the Rizal Memorial Track Oval for the 3As trackfest, which he said was also timely for the 2005 RP SEAG. But Buhain said: "The Philsoc will have to decide first if we should build new sports infrastructure for the country’s hosting of the 2005 SEAG or spend on the old ones. And then we will have to arrive at where we can get the funding."

"Medyo mahal lang talaga ang hosting chore. Kung ipabyahe natin ang mga athletes, mas matipid at may chance na quality competition ang salihan nila," he added.