PSC to withhold funding athletes of delinquent NSAs

MANILA, Philippines– Several Filipino athletes who are bidding to play in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea should put their ambitions on hold.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia Wednesday announced that the agency will stop funding the training of athletes under national sports associations with unliquidated financial obligations to the government.

Garcia said he got a circular from the Commission on Audit (COA), which ordered the PSC not to release any financial assistance to delinquent NSAs.

He added the COA directive would adversely affect the training and preparation of athletes going to major international competitions, particularly the Asiad from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 and the Youth Olympic Games in August.

“We’re just following the circular of COA that those NSAs that did not liquidate their financial assistance can’t be funded,” said Garcia during yesterday’s Philippine Olympic Committee general assembly.

“We have no choice but to stop funding all NSAs with unliquidated expenses. No funding will be given, which means that training and preparation for the Asian Games will have to stop,” he added.

According to Garcia, around 30 NSAs haven’t settled their expenses amounting to P32 million since 2010, 13 of which are bound for Incheon, including potential gold medalists boxing and golf. He refused to name the other NSAs.

If the NSAs failed to comply, Garcia said the PSC would be forced to file charges against the erring NSA officials. He added the PSC has over P100 million in unliquidated expenses.

“COA told me that I’m authorized to do whatever I want. But at the same time, I will be the one answerable to them if these NSAs don’t liquidate the financial assistance given to them,” said Garcia.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. labeled the COA circular pure harassment.

“This is obviously discrimination against Philippine sports,” said Cojuangco, who put the blame on COA resident auditor Chito Janaban.

“How can we operate without money? We will just stop our training and preparation,” he added.