MANILA - Nangako ang Committee on Youth and Sports Development congressmen ng kanilang suporta sa paghingi ng   Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ng sapat na pondo para sa Tokyo 2021 Olympics, ang Kamara sa isinagawang committee regular meeting, Miyerkoles. 

 

Sa committee meeting na pinangunahan ni Committee Head Representative Eric Martinez, inilahad ni PSC Chairman William Ramirez ang kailangan ng ahensya sa kanilang nakaltas na pondo para maipagpatuloy ang suporta sa training at competitions ng mga Tokyo Olympic Games qualifier at mga umaasang makakuha ng slots. 

 

"We were one of those government offices who also contributed to the Bayanihan Act. The DBM (Department of Budget and Management) deducted from us. Para sa amin malaking bagay 'yun kasi kasama doon 'yung Olympic budget namin. Hanggang ngayon po bakante 'yan. It's an opportunity for us to ask, we need your help," pahayag ni Ramirez.

 

 

Makaraang ipresenta ang  Olympic budget request ng higit sa P182 Million para sa Tokyo-bound athletes at hopefuls na nilikha ni Chef de Mission (CDM) Mariano Araneta sa PSC, tinampok ng sports agency chief na maisulong sa  Congress na maihatag ang pangarap na unang ginto ng bansa sa Olympics.   

 

"Rep. Bambol Tolentino has initially supported yung P 180 Million na allowances ng atleta which was approved by the bicam, and to be approved by the President. Thank you sa lahat ng congressman na sumuporta. Pero 'yung Olympic budget namin, we are hoping again for your support," ani Ramirez.

 

 

 

Ibinalita ni Ramirez na ang bulto na ang "the Philippine Sports Commission ay naisasagawa ang operasyon  sa savings galing sa PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation)" and that "when we talk about the elite athletes of the national team, the budget being used is the NSDF (National Sports Development Fund)” prompting PSC to lessen grassroots sports program related to local government units.

 

 

 

"Dito kami naka-focus sa elite athletes. We still have some budget just enough for us to reach December," pag-amin ni   Ramirez sa kanyang sagot sa   Committee Vice-Chair Jericho Nograles' inquiry patungkol sa pondo ng PSC.

 

 

 

Ang government's sports arm's budget ay nakaltas sa P596 Million buhat sa  National Sports Development Fund at panibago sa  P773 Million mula sa General Appropriations Act ng DBM, para lunasan ang  COVID-19 national health crisis.

 

 

 

"Rest assured that we will do our part to get the funding for this Olympics. All hands are in. Dapat lahat tayo dito. This is the best chance we have," responde ni House Youth and Sports Development Head Rep. Martinez na aniya pa'y kanilang talakayin ito kasama ng DBM at maitakda sa lalong madaling panahon dahil sa kailangan ng atleta.  "need that budget for the Olympics."

 

 

 

Ina-update din ni CDM Araneta ang pakikipagtulungan ng PSC pata ilagay ang top bets at national athletes na puntirya ang Tokyo berths na makabalik sa training.

 

 

 

"Right now 21 athletes are training abroad, and 65 athletes training here in the Philippines so that's a total of 86 athletes and four have already qualified so we're saying that there are still 82 athletes that are training to qualify for the Olympics. At the moment, for those who are in the Philippines we are just waiting for PSC to submit to IATF the training protocols that include the venues and the health protocols that the sports associations have submitted," bahagi ni Araneta. (LP/PSC)