POC needs extra P10M to finance RP Doha stint

The P30 million allotted by the Philippine Sports Commission may not be enough to defray the cost of Filipino athletes participation in the 2006 Doha Asian Games slated Dec. 1-15.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. said they might need an additional P10 million to bankroll the 399-member delegation including 269 athletes going to Doha.

"That’s our estimate," said Cojuangco after yesterday’s POC General Assembly meeting in Makati City.

This came after the Philippine Sports Commission, which sent commissioner Ritchie Garcia as representative, said it was standing firm on its decision to allocate only P30 million for the Asiad.

One option the POC is mulling is to get the extra funds by tapping the private sector, similar to the campaign made by First Gentleman for athletes competing in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games.

Cojuangco, however, said he would wait for Bacolod Congressman Monico Puentevella and PSC chair William "Butch" Ramirez before he proceeds with the plan.

Puentevella, who heads the weightlifting group, is reportedly out of the country while Ramirez is on sick leave and will be back next week.

"In the event that it fails to raise the extra fund, the POC might be forced to trim down the number of athletes it will send and make do with the PSC allotment.

The move, however, may not sit well with various International Federations since some sports, like water polo, gymnastics and volleyball among others, have already come up with groupings and schedules.

Included in the list are the 20-plus athletes who were given berths in the contingent despite failing to meet the Doha criteria and team events baseball, softball and water polo. — Joey Villar