Ramirez installs priest to ensure transparency

BANGKOK, Thailand – Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez Sunday said the appointment of a priest as executive director would give the government sports agency a moral foundation  to keep the agency  transparent and devoid of corruption.

The new appointee, who replaced Cesar Pradas, is Fr. Vicente Uy, a missionary of the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD), popularly known as the Divine Word Missionaries based at Christ the King Mission Seminary in Quezon City and Tagaytay.

Ramirez formalized the appointment of Fr. Uy upon his return Friday to Manila from the Thailand Southeast Asian Games.

“I asked the SVD that he be assigned to the PSC for at least a year,” said Ramirez, himself an ex-serminarian.  “A priest will give the agency the moral foundation it needs so everything we do is transparent and above board.”

The office of the executive director is a sensitive position since it implements the policies of the PSC board of commissioners and attends to day to day administrative functions to allow the PSC chairman to concentrate on policy making and higher levels of administration, particularly those involving the training and preparation of national athletes for international competitions.

The most sensitive function of the executive director is the approval of funds released to the various national sports associations for their allowances, training and travel abroad.

The executive director’s function on money matters also involves acquisition of equipment and repair and maintenance of sport facilities and hiring of contractuals including concessionaires and security personnel.

He recommends how much should be spent for projects for approval of the board of commissioners.

Several national sports associations have resented the practice of some high officials pre-empting the responsibility of the executive director on money matters.

The office of the executive director is the implementing arm of the board of commissioners. Graft and corruption start in this office, which commissioners and national sports associations deal with on fund requests. A commissioner has been branded “Mr. 30 percent” by a national sports association official.

Ramirez said a priest will serve as  an “equalizer” who will ensure that all transactions with the government agency are well spent. The PSC gets about P20 million from the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. and horse racing as mandated by an executive order and from Congress through the National Appropriation Act.   – Gerry Carpio