PSC hopes to restore full allowances for national athletes by December

Butch Ramirez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission hopes to restore the allowances of the national athletes to its usual rates by December once it starts receiving funds again from its government sources.

PSC chair Butch Ramirez also vowed not to layoff PSC employees, unless with causes, right in the height of the pandemic.

The agency is running on the “little savings” that it got after donating P1-billion to the pandemic cause.

“That’s the least we can do, we have 250 contractuals; if we let them go, where would they get money to feed their families?” said Ramirez.

The athletes were hit with a 50-percent pay cut that was applied across all levels: from elite athletes likes Hidilyn Diaz who receives P40,000 a month down to members of the national pool who get P15,000 monthly.

Ramirez said they hope the General Appropriations Act and the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corporation start remitting to the agency to replenish their coffers.

The PSC is set to fund the country’s campaign in next year’s Tokyo Olympics and the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games.

“As you know, money is the lifeblood of a government agency,” said Ramirez during the PSA Forum online. INQ