Garcia: Cojuangco promises support on budget request

THE PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee’s direct line to Malacañang would come in handy for the Philippine Sports Commission.

PSC chair Richie Garcia yesterday said POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. has assured him of President Aquino’s support in such cases as getting the government sports agency’s financial requirements.

“He (Cojuangco) told me that we could approach the President directly on a case-to-case basis,” said Garcia during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.

President Aquino is a nephew of Cojuangco, who recommended Garcia and the rest of the members of the new PSC board to lead the sports agency.

Garcia’s appointment renewed closer ties between the PSC and the Olympic body which had ebbed during the 18-month term of former PSC chair Harry Angping.

“With the relationship that we have, maybe the doors will be open for that kind of arrangement,” Garcia, referring to Cojuangco’s offer, said during the public sports program sponsored by Shakey’s, Pagcor, Accel and Outlast Battery.

Garcia also expressed fears that the agency’s P700-million budget request under next year’s General Appropriations Act might be slashed by the Department of Budget Management after Mr. Aquino announced during his State of the Nation Address on Monday that government coffers had been bled dry by the past administration.

The GAA allocation funds the annual operation of the PSC while a separate national sports development fund (NSDF) sustains the training requirements of national athletes.

The PSC’s monthly share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. sustains the agency’s NSDF.

Garcia said the PSC received P40 million from the Pagcor this month.

On the POC’s part, Cojuangco said during the same forum that they would form a committee to determine the financial requirements of the national sports associations before submitting them to the PSC.

The committee will also audit the expenses of NSAs on a yearly basis.

“The expenses will be strictly audited to ensure that the money will be maximized for the use of the athletes,” said Cojuangco, who was accompanied by POC deputy secretary general Mark Joseph and the athletes and coaches bound for the Youth Olympic Games next month in Singapore.

Cojuangco said POC first vice president Manny Lopez, secretary general Steve Hontiveros and rowing’s Benjie Ramos would comprise the committee.