Private sector help continues to pour in for POC

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is close to meeting its target for private sponsorships, even as secretary general Patrick Gregorio announced on Wednesday that the Olympic Council of Asia has approved the release of P1.5 million for the purchase of an official transport for the POC.

“This is part of our marketing efforts per instruction of POC president Ricky Vargas. Our marching orders were to source P100 million in sponsorships and we are already at 90 percent of that goal after only a little over a year,” Gregorio said.

After Vargas took over the POC last year, a total of P76 million went into the POC courtesy of San Miguel Corp. (P50 million), MVP Sports Foundation (P20 million) and the PBA (P6 million).

Toyota Motors, meanwhile, said it would cover balance for a 29-seater Toyota Coaster for the POC, valued at P3.453 million.

The Max’s Group Inc. also recently committed P10.5 million for athletes who will compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.