The facelift continued at the Philippine Sports Commission following the appointment of Fr. Vic Uy as its newest commissioner, taking the place of Richie Garcia who served the government sports agency for nearly a decade.
Fr. Uy’s appointment was signed by President Arroyo last Thursday but was announced to the press only yesterday. At the time of his appointment, Fr. Uy occupied the position of PSC executive director.
“I wanted to see the appointment papers first because I could not believe it,” said Fr. Uy yesterday after being congratulated and welcomed to his new post by PSC chairman Butch Ramirez who brought him into the agency a year ago.
“He’s a very welcome addition to the PSC board,” said Ramirez, who added that for the meantime, Fr. Uy may serve as commissioner and executive director at the same time.
“But if there’s a need to name a new executive director then it will be done,” the chairman added.
Garcia, who said he has yet to receive a letter from Malacanang, came into the PSC picture in 1998 and served under the late (chairman) Butch Tuason then Eric Buhain and Ramirez. He left the PSC for a while and was reinstated by President Arroyo before the 2005 Manila SEA Games.
Fr. Uy has quietly served as PSC consultant in Davao over the recent years, before he was tapped to replace Cesar Pradas as executive director. He said his appointment as commissioner will not affect his outlook as a public servant.
“Well I just have to continue to work. That’s all I can think of right now – to continue to work but in a different capacity. The purpose is to help Philippine sports and the athletes,” he said.
Fr. Uy coming in to replace Garcia came as a big surprise since there is still a vacancy in the post of commissioner following the transfer of Atty. Ambrocio de Luna to the Department of Agrarian Reform.
De Luna was transferred to the DAR only last August but up to now Malacañang has yet to name his replacement. Among those being considered for the post are businessman-sportsman King Yabut, basketball grassroots expert Nic Jorge and another PSC official in Joy Encabo.
The PSC revamp under Ramirez actually started last December when Leon Montemayor of Davao was replaced by Eric Loretizo of Bacolod. Then last July, Joey Mundo stepped down and was replaced by fellow Olympian Akiko Thompson.