PSC fills in the gaps

MANILA, Philippines — Yesterday was the start of the volleyball tournament of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the newly-renovated PhilSports Arena. However, the venue wouldn’t have been acceptable to the competing teams if not for the brand-new electronic scoreboard hurriedly acquired by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on behalf of the organizers.

A source informed The STAR that the specifications for the equipment being used to conduct the volleyball matches were submitted late due to an ongoing conflict between factions in the sport. Fortunately, the PSC had a contractor who could deliver what was needed on short notice.This has apparently happened in other sports as the Games loomed, and the government’s lead sports agency has been able to head off or remedy most of the issues.

Every SEA Games Organizing committee (in this case PHISGOC) is a temporary private entity that is overall in charge of the conduct of the games and ancillary events like the opening and closing ceremonies. The national sports associations (NSAs), in turn, are responsible for all technical matters, scheduling and running their own individual sports’ games. This includes acquiring equipment and services, but following government bidding and procurement procedures. 

Since government funds are being used for the SEA Games, the PSC serves as the disbursing agency, after it checks the items and services recommended for procurement by the NSAs and PHISGOC to assure that they are in proper order. The PSC is mandated to help any and all national sports endeavors by the Republic Act that created it. It is also bound to support the SEA Games by a Memorandum Circular from the Executive Secretary and the Memorandum of Agreement to host the Games.

Many of the problems that have already been solved by the PSC were caused by miscommunication among the parties involved in the Games. Some were not. For example, though no fault of their own, some foreign delegates arrived without the proper visas or required entry permits. The PSC took the lead in coordinating with immigration authorities to immediately allow the concerned foreign guests to enter the country. 

Other problems surfaced at the regular chef de mission (CDM) meetings. Many sports officials of other countries warned of potential problems with substandard facilities and equipment mere days before the SEA Games opened. President Rodrigo Duterte himself, meanwhile, ordered the Commission to ensure that the Games went through seamlessly, even calling in other agencies like the Department of Tourism to help out, which they hastily did. 

Meanwhile, some of the chefs de mission directly contacted the PSC to ask for help with problems of different kinds. PSC Chair Butch Ramirez is concurrently Philippine chef de mission for the 30th SEA Games.

The source also said that the PSC has released approximately P522 million in financial assistance to ensure the smooth conduct of the Games.