FILE–Gilas Pilipinas playing Saudi Arabia in the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by Fiba
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has proposed an inter-agency task force to prepare for the country’s hosting of the Fiba Basketball World Cup in 2023.
The proposal is on top of the task force that the PSC has established for the sporting event.
“Ang PSC po ay nagtayo na ng isang task force na magtatrabaho, alongside ‘yung local organizing committee,” PSC chairperson Noli Eala said in a Laging Handa public briefing on Friday.
(The PSC created a task force that will work alongside the local organizing committee.)
“Kami rin po ay nagmungkahi sa Office of the President na magtayo po ng isang inter-agency task force na magiging kaakibat po ng SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas), ng Fiba, at ng local organizing committee sa pag-host ng Fiba World Cup next year. Ito po ay in the works na at amin pong patuloy na minomonitor sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga organizers po ng Fiba World Cup,” he added.
(We also proposed to the Office of the President the creation of an inter-agency task force that will work with the SBP, Fiba, and the local organizing committee to host the Fiba World Cup next year. This is already in the works, and we continue to monitor it in coordination with the organizers of the Fiba World Cup.)
The PSC has allocated P65 million for the local organizing committee. Eala noted that this is not the final amount as the government has yet to provide a budget.
“Kami po ay naglaan na ngayon pa lamang po, in terms of preparation pa lang, hindi pa po ito mismong hosting, naglaan na po at nagbigay na po kami ng P65 million sa local organizing committee,” Eala said.
(We allocated P65 million to the local organizing committee so far, in terms of preparation, not for the hosting proper.)
“’Yun pong tulong na manggagaling po sa pamahalaan, ‘yan po ay aming hinihintay pa in terms of the coordination with the Congress and with the Office of the President,” he went on.
(We are still waiting for the help of the government. We are in coordination with the Congress and with the Office of the President.)
Eala said that the Philippines’ hosting of the Fiba World Cup is a chance for the country to prove that it is a sports destination and to show that it has world-class hospitality. — Christian Paul Dela Cruz, INQUIRER.net trainee