Task force tackles slow pace of Asiad preparations

MANILA, Philippines — Saddled with the issue of unliquidated expenses of national sports associations (NSAs) that will send athletes to this year’s Asian Games, Philippine chef de mission Richie Garcia will convene the Asian Games task force tomorrow to find a solution to the problem that curtails the athletes’ training.

“I’m calling for a meeting on Wednesday with the task force to try to come up with solutions,” said Garcia, also chair of the Philippine Sports Commission, Monday.

“If this is not resolved, all training will be done locally and they have to work double time,” said Garcia, noting that “there’s a big difference between training locally and internationally as the Asiad bets will be exposed to athletes from other countries.”

The Commission on Audit recently issued a circular ordering the PSC to turn down all financial requests from NSAs which failed to liquidate their previous cash advances.

A total of 34 NSAs have unliquidated cash advances from July 2010 to February 2014 amounting to P32,153,033.25, based on the list released by the PSC.

Garcia said 13 of those NSAs are set to compete in the Asiad set Sept. 19 to Oct. 8.

Judo leads the delinquent NSAs with unliquidated expenses of about P4 million followed by wrestling (P2.9 million), sailing (P2.6 million), golf (P2.2 million), weightlifting (P2.2 million), rowing (P2 million), archery (P1.5 million), bridge (P1.2 million) and gymnastics (P1.1 million).

As a future solution to the issue, Garcia suggested that an accountant or a PSC official act as head of delegation or team manager in all foreign trips of the NSAs, who will take care of the disbursement of funds and the liquidation of all expenses right after the trip.