Philippine sports body donates P2M to 'Odette' relief ops

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has donated P2 million to help relief efforts in the Visayas and Mindanao areas devastated by Typhoon Odette.

PSC chairman William Ramirez has been coordinating with former commissioner and executive director Fr. Vicente Uy to handle the distribution of packages and relief goods to places most hit by the recent calamity.

Ramirez also mobilized all the government sports-funding agency’s regional coordinators in the area through PSC-Philippine Sports Institute deputy director Marlon Malbog to assist Uy, now the Region VIII president of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA), in the help drive.

“Fr. Uy has the leadership and integrity to be on top of this on the ground.  We are directly coordinating with him.  The PSC, archdioceses, universities, teachers and the sports community will come together and help,” said Ramirez.

Uy gladly accepted the task.

“The PSC’s compassion for the calamity victims and passion for the cause of humanity are deeply appreciated,” said Uy.

Just last Monday, the PSC partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the transport of about 10,000 bottled water and 900 units of mattresses to the local government of Bohol.

The PSC Board also approved the release of a P15,000 financial assistance for each of the 136 athletes and 31 coaches reported to have been affected by the typhoon, which was apart from the P10,000 bonus all national athletes and coaches will receive from the agency as Christmas bonus.