All’s well that ends well for PSC, NSAs

After a two-hour dialogue that revolved around persistent budgetary woes, the country’s top sports leaders yesterday agreed to set aside their differences and hopefully find a lasting solution to all the problems hounding Philippine sports.

Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative of the Philippines, capped the dialogue with an urgent call for all the leaders to work under a transparent situation, get on the same page and once and for all think extremely positive.

"Because if we will spend all our time attacking and criticizing one another, then this is going to be an endless circle. Let’s get rid of all these," said the respected sports official who received a big round of applause from those who packed the VIP section of the Century Park Hotel’s coffee shop.

The dialogue was arranged after a group of NSA (National Sports Association) presidents recently signed a petition paper addressed to President Arroyo demanding the ouster of Eric Buhain as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

In the petition paper, the disgruntled NSA leaders expressed their discontent and lack of confidence in Buhain. They ruled the "lack of concern and support" the PSC has given to the training of the national athletes especially at this time that the country is preparing to host the 2005 SEA Games.

Buhain defended himself and the government sports agency, saying problems like these are quite unavoidable considering the meager budget the PSC receives from Congress. The former swimming sensation said he can only do so much to satisfy all the needs of the NSAs and their hundreds of athletes.

Elizalde was on the same page as Buhain, saying that the bottomline of all the problems is the fact that there seems to be not enough money for everybody as far as their world, regional and local requirements in sports are concerned.

In short, removing Buhain out of the PSC will not provide the solution.

Elizalde said it’s about time that the country’s top sports leaders unite and, with one voice, call on the government to place sports among its priorities.

"We must get together and pressure the government–the present administration or whatever administration–to support sports to a great extent. We must get certain assurances from the government," said Elizalde.

"It’s very hard (for the PSC) to deal with the situation when their projected income is a question mark. The government should make a change. We cannot just depend on a percentage of the income of other government agencies," he said.

Elizalde was referring to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) which the PSC derives–on a fluctuating, monthly basis–from government agencies like the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

The NSDF is being used to feed the NSAs and the close to a thousand athletes on the national, training and developmental pools, including their training expenses, local and foreign exposures and allowances.

"Otherwise, the PSC will always have to tighten up its operations," said Elizalde.

After the different NSA leaders aired their gripes, Buhain and Dayrit delivered their own messages.

"We have a problem and I hope that we can just cooperate. You may not like me as Eric Buhain but may I request that the position of PSC chairman be respected. Yes, I’m young, but I was the one chosen by the President to do this job," said Buhain who was on his 750th day in office.

Buhain vowed to look into the problems of each of the NSAs and hoped to see some results by next month. A second meeting was scheduled April at the same hotel.

"There are a lot of things to be done but what’s important is that we’re trying to find the solution. These are very real problems," said Dayrit.

"We are faced with the 2005 Manila SEA Games. Whether we like it or not, it will push through. Whether we like it or not, the competition will go on. And whether we like it or not, our athletes will fight for our country. Even if they get humiliated, they will be there for us," said Dayrit, the fencing president.

National shooting association president Art Macapagal then suggested a continuous dialogue among the PSC and POC officials so they can both attend to the needs of the NSAs in a "more compassionate manner."

Buhain and Dayrit then shook hands, and again, a big round of applause from those who attended the meeting.