PSC addressing COA issue

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Sports Commission is not too worried over a recent report stating that the government sports agency has over P138 million in unliquidated funds with the Commission on Audit.

The COA said the PSC has not liquidated a total of P138,692,979.97 in unliquidated funds representing financial support to the different national sports associations (NSAs) and incentives to athletes and coaches covering the past 13 years.

“We’ve answered the issue before the COA,” said PSC chairman Richie Garcia yesterday.

“First, it is common knowledge that when we came in about six years ago, they (unliquidated advances) were already there,” he said.

Some if not most of the unliquidated cash advances are the accountablity of NSA officials who are no longer around, and for this, the current officials and athletes suffer.

Garcia said under his watch, the PSC has been insistent in reminding the NSAs that the PSC cannot release any funding to their sport if they have unliquidated advances – previous or current.

“We have been very active in monitoring the current (NSA) officials. We already made an advisory and they know that. The NSA officials have the obligation to liquidate,” said Garcia.

Because of the absence of an IRR (implementing rules and regulations) for the Incentive Act, the COA also hinted that the PSC may have erred in releasing cash incentives to athletes and coaches.

“The thing that worries me is the IRR,” said Garcia.

The PSC chief also explained that liquidating cash advances become complicated when they pertain to purchase of training or competition equipment for the hundreds of athletes.

“Until they (equipment) are released you are unliquidated. Whether it’s still with the Customs or on the way or are in transit. This takes time and it comes out as unliquidated,” he said.

Garcia said that under his watch, unliquidated cash advances from the close to 50 NSAs are down to less than P30 million.