Untapped Olympic budget boosts PSC funds

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Sports Commission is seeking permission from the Department of Budget and Management to realign the P30 million the agency had allocated for the London Olympics for other sports projects and development programs.

The Philippine Olympic Committee, noting that only a handful will be going to London this time, decided that it would shoulder the cost of participation through private sponsorships.

PSC chair Richie Garcia Thursday said they would ask the DBM to use a fraction of the budget for the training and overseas exposures of the Olympic qualifiers with the rest going to its other projects.

“If the PSC doesn’t use it until the end of the year, the money goes back to the treasury,” said Garcia.

Only six athletes have made it to the July 27 to Aug. 12 Olympiad so far—boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, one male and female athlete from the mandatory disciplines of athletics and swimming, and one shooter set to be named by the Philippine National Shooting Association.

POC first vice president Manny Lopez, the chef de mission to the Olympics, said several more Filipinos in boxing, wrestling, rowing and shooting will try to book tickets to London through qualifying tournament until early July.

Lopez said the POC has hired a marketing arm to raise funds for the PH bets.