PSC chair William Ramirez. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez expects the country to have better showing in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Since topping the medal tally when it hosted the biennial event in 2005, the Philippines’ best finish was fifth place in 2009 with its last three stints ending in either sixth or seventh.
“We are looking to expect [for a better placing]. Not only to dream and and pray to have a medal there,” said Ramirez during the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate Tuesday. “Every country is hoping and dreaming so we have to expect.”
Ramirez said the commissioner is implementing a strict “no-liquidation, no-funding” policy to promote transparency and avoid unnecessary spending from the National Sports Associations with the SEA Games just eight months away.
“I really want to tell the NSAs to perform. If you will not perform, look for your money [on your own next time] because the people, the Philippines, the House of Representatives, the Senate and many others are asking, ‘Where’s the progress?’ If only you could hear the Senate [hearing], it was so humiliating.”
Ramirez was referring to the the hearing about the unliquidated funds from 2005 hosting of the SEA Games last month in the Senate where tempers flared among the NSA heads in attendance.
Aside from the funding, Ramirez also reiterated their full commitment to the athletes and coaches welfare by providing better sleeping quarters and food prepared by a nutritionist and a five-star executive chef.
“What I know about life is, if you have a good head master, you have a good teacher, you’ll produce very good students. If you have a very good NSA leader, very good coach, you’ll produce very good athletes,” Ramirez, the only two-time PSC chair, said.
“Survey shows that it is not the allowances, not the salaries that is the basis of performance and satisfaction,” he said. “A lot of surveys show it is about human dwellings, if they sleep comfortably, if their toilets are clean, if they’re eating well. If we’re able to give good allowances to the athletes, coaches and good food, we’re hoping the coaching will turn out good as well.”