PSC lauds Patafa, private sector partnership

PSC Chair William Ramirez. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez praised the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) on Thursday for successfully getting the private sector to fund its programs.

“The sports associations should not be entirely dependent on the government,” said Ramirez. “They should also find other sources of funding.”

He cited the Patafa for teaming up with Ayala Corp. to take care of the national tracksters until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Patafa has a financial request of P65 million from the PSC to fund its programs this year.

For Ayala Corp., the amount of the donation to aid Patafa will be deducted from the taxes that it will pay the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The PSC will serve as a conduit between Ayala and Patafa with Ramirez immediately directing PSC executive director Carlo Abarquez to discuss the deal with the BIR for the signing of a memorandum of agreement.

Patafa, in return, will benefit from the partnership on its quest to win as many as 12 gold medals in the forthcoming 29th Southeast Asian Games on Aug. 19 to 31 in Kuala Lumpur.