POC wants fair deal for all NSAs

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Olympic Committee is batting for equality among the more than 40 national sports associations (NSAs) when it comes to the support coming from the Philippine Sports Commission.

“You need to give everybody equal chance,” said POC spokesperson Jose Romasanta, adding that even non-performing NSAs should continue to receive support from the government sports agency.

The POC official, chef-de-mission of the RP team to the Guangzhou Asian Games in November, said that in his recent dialogues with the NSAs the question on government support always crop up.

“There are more NSAs questioning the support they’ve been getting from the government. And I see their point that failure to deliver shouldn’t mean that they deserve lesser support,” Romasanta said.

“It’s like the case of which came first – the chicken or the egg. You cut or you lessen the support to these NSAs because they don’t deliver. But how and when will they deliver if you don’t support them?” he asked.

The former director of Project Gintong Alay said that while it’s logical to maintain a group of elite athletes, the government should not turn its back on those who struggle in the international arena.

Romasanta said the PSC, which is expecting a change in leadership under the new administration, should start off by calling on all NSAs to come up with a stronger platform in running their plans and programs.

Then the PSC can start providing the NSA, even the non-performing ones, all the support they can get from the government, provided that they start showing marked improvement in their respective fields.

“First, you must give them the chance. Then you set up a timeline for them. You support them, and if still nothing happens, then they will have no one else to blame but themselves,” Romasanta explained.

“The PSC and these NSAs can come up with a common plan. And if nothing happens, you can look back at the plans, and find out what went wrong. Puwede mong sabihin sa NSAs na ‘hindi mo kasi sinunod ang plano, eh.’”

Romasanta said the PSC erred in focusing too much on the elite athletes and those who have chances of becoming one, and starting to cut the allowances of those who didn’t meet the PSC criteria.

“Everybody deserves a chance because under the law, the PSC is mandated to support the NSAs being recognized by the POC, and it goes for the athletes. You cannot draw the line between them.”