Garcia to successor: Get more from Pagcor

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ RICHARD REYES

OUTGOING Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair has two recommendations to the next sports czar: Fight for the five percent gross remittance from the Philippine Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and pursue the plan to build a national training center outside polluted Metro Manila.

With only weeks left in his office, Garcia said he’s open to being re-installed as PSC chief but just the same, will file a courtesy resignation to give incoming President Rodrigo Duterte a free hand.

“There are many personalities who are applying for the job, and calling people who are close to Mayor Duterte,” said Garcia. “It’s an honor for me if given the chance to remain because it would be unprecedented to serve four Presidents.”

Garcia served as commissioner under President Joseph Estrada and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo starting in 1998 and became Chair in 2010 under President Aquino.

Still, the champion golfer said he would like the next PSC board to knock on the doors of Duterte regarding the Pagcor monthly dues and “interpret the laws as it is which is five percent of the gross income.”

The PSC is now getting about P60 million monthly from Pagcor, or five percent net of Pagcor’s income based on the computation adopted during the term of President Fidel Ramos.

PSC officials deemed that the agency can get double of the current amount if the “law was interpreted as is.”

Garcia also said he would recommend to the next board to use the agency’s saving of P1.5 billion as “seed money for the national training center.”

The PSC and the POC have started plans to build a training center in Clark, which is more conducive for athletes, unlike the conditions at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.