Palaro managers decry pay cut

MANILA, Philippines – Tournament managers in the Palarong Pambansa were up in arms against the Department of Education's decision to cut their salary by more than two-thirds of the original amount given to them the past editions.

Five technical heads, all tapped from National Sports Associations to give the weeklong event for elementary and high school students that concluded last week at Sta. Cruz, Laguna some order, were reportedly paid P4,500 instead of P15,000 given in the past years.

Chess' tournament director Gene Poliarco, in fact, claimed he didn't accept the P4,500 after he was informed of the salary changes two days before the meet finished. Athletics' Claro Pellosis, for his part, said it was the lowest honorarium in more than three decades serving as technical official of the event.

"Hindi ko tinanggap (I didn't accept it)," said Poliarco, who has been handling chess in the Palaro the last three years.

"Ang sentiment ko dapat umpisa pa lang sinabi na ganito lang ibibigay. Lokohan na 'yan (My sentiment is that they should have declared how much they will pay us from the start. They're making a fool of us)," he added.

"It's the first time that this happened," Pellosis, for his part, said.

The protesting officials tried to air gripes by going straight to DepEd's office in Pasig City but got nothing.

For swimming director Richard Luna, the decision to cut the salary for their services is unfair to officials who worked hard despite the searing heat.

"They should pity the technical officials who fulfilled their duties, especially those who worked out there under the scorching heat," said Luna.

Billiards' Bong Ilagan of billiards was the first to lodge the complaint when he as early as a week before.

The DepEd has tapped NSAs to conduct the games since it’s the latter that has technical know-how of the sport.

If this issue falls on deaf ears, there is a chance NSA's may shy away from rendering their services to the DepEd again next year, which could result to chaos and possibly, death.

It can be recalled that a boy died in the boxing event in the regionals early in the year, forcing DepEd to lend officials from the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines in the national Palaro in Sta. Cruz.

DepEd already received flak from mediamen after issuing an unprecedented protocol requiring them to ask for approval first before doing interviews.