Solon says PSC budget for amateur sports should be at least P2B

Philippine Sports Commission. PSC

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) should have at least P2 billion as budget for amateur sports, according to BH party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera.

In a statement on Friday, Herrera said that the PSC should take advantage of the high discussions about sports, brought by the 2024 Paris Olympics and the victories of Filipino athletes.

The lawmaker explained that it is time for the government to provide funding to athletes from other sports who have not yet progressed, due to lack of funding.

“Ngayon na ang tamang panahon para umusad ang mga matagal nang nakabinbing mga panukalang batas tungkol sa sports. Panahon din upang bigyan ng sapat na suporta ang maraming iba pang atleta na hindi pa nananalo ng medalya sa international competitions dahil kapos na kapos ang pondo kahit para man lang sa kanilang araw-araw na gastusin,” she said.

(Now is the right time for our long-pending bills regarding sports to move forward.  It is also the time to give other athletes enough support because many have not yet succeeded or have not won medals in international competitions because they do not receive enough funds to shoulder their daily expenses.)

“Ngayon pa lang, dapat samantalahin na ng Philippine Sports Commission ang pagkakataon, habang nagdiriwang pa ang sambayanan sa mga medalyang nakamit na sa Paris Olympics, upang pataasin pa ang basic and meal allowance rates ng mga atletang nasa pangangalaga ng PSC,” she added.

(As early as now, the Philippine Sports Commission should take advantage of this chance, that while people are celebrating the medals won from the Paris Olympics, we should increase the basic and meal allowance rates of athletes under the PSC’s care.)

Herrera said that the PSC’s budget for amateur sports is only at P413 million, which she believes is too small for the country to make significant progress in unexplored sporting categories.

“The PSC’s amateur sports development program has a proposed budget of only P413 million.  That is too small.  If we really want to win more medals in international competitions. That budget should be at least P2 billion in 2025 and every year after that, aside from the increases in the basic and meal allowances,” she said.

“There is no request for capital outlays in the proposed PSC 2025 budget. There should be, especially if the PSC wants the Philippine National Games to be more successful. Speak now. Do not wait for the next Olympics,” she added.

The House of Representatives is currently tackling the proposed 2025 national budget, which amounts to P6.352 trillion.  With the PSC, its budget is expected to be taken up along with the Office of the President (OP), its mother agency.

OP’s budget is scheduled to be discussed at the House committee on appropriations by September 3.

READ: House begins committee hearings on proposed 2025 national budget 

According to Herrera, the PSC should “strike while the iron is hot”, and suggest that the lowest rate of allowances should be P25,000 to P30,000.

“Humirit na dapat agad ngayon ang PSC ng across the board increase sa lahat ng basic and meal allowance rates at dagdagan pa ng allowance para sa vitamins at mga gamot,” she said.

(The PSC should ask for an across the board increase for all basic and meal allowance rates, and higher allowance for vitamins and medicines.)

“‘Strike while the iron is hot’ is my timely and urgent advice to the PSC so those basic and meal allowances will be substantially increased. I believe the lowest rate should be P25,000 to P30,000, so the PSC should aim for that and adjust all other rates upward. They should ask now while we are still in euphoria over the Olympic medal harvest and the individual performances,” she added.

READ: Gymnast Carlos Yulo gives PH its second Olympic gold 

Several Filipinos have hailed the victory of national athletes in the Olympics, like gymnast Carlos Yulo who bagged two gold medals in the men’s artistic gymnastics final and the men’s vault finals.  However, their victories also marked calls to put more energy into other sports that may not be as popular as mainstream events like basketball, volleyball, and football.

No less than Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez last Monday said that the House will continue supporting national sports programs so that the country can develop more athletes like Yulo. With reports from Ysabel Escalona, trainee