INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?The Asian Games fund of the Philippine Sports Commission is getting bigger faster than expected.

With an P80-million savings from the Southeast Asian Games, the government sports agency found two more sources of funds for the Guangzhou Asiad campaign this November from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Bureau of Customs.

PSC chair Harry Angping Wednesday said the agency will get a percentage from the proceeds of the 6/49 lotto in six special sweepstakes draws for sports within the year based on the PSC?s agreement with PCSO officials.

This new arrangement comes on top of an earlier deal with PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte where the PSC can earn a maximum of P30 million this year from its share in the PCSO contest.

Angping said the PSC will also receive from the Bureau of Customs 11 percent of its tax collections from imported sports equipment, accessories and apparel.

?It will all go to the Asian Games buildup,? said Angping, who plans to identify 50 elite athletes which the PSC will financially support all the way to the Asiad set Nov. 16 to 27.

Angping said the agency found out only recently that it is entitled to a share from the customs tariff of all sports-related products regardless of the goods? point of entry in the country.

The PSC saved at least P80 million after spending only P50 million for a 251-member contingent that captured 34 of the 38 gold medals that boosted the country to fifth place overall in the Laos SEA Games.