PSC won’t release funds for Olympiad

Until the Federation Internationale des Eches (FIDE) can produce documents officially recognizing a certain national federation, the Philippine Sports Commission will not be giving financial assistance to any group requesting for such.

PSC commissioner Ricardo Garcia told The STAR over the weekend that the budget amounting to P700,000, which will be used by the RP team bound for the World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey this month, will not be released to either the Philippine Chess Federation or the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

"We’re not taking sides. We’re just playing it safe because we’re talking about public funds here and it’s no joke," said Garcia, who argued that FIDE’s recognition of the NCFP is only on a provisional basis.

Garcia stressed that the PSC is at a loss on what should be the basis in recognizing a certain group. To clear things up, the PSC sent the FIDE a letter through fax message to get clarification on the matter.

"The PSC has already faxed FIDE for clarifications and we expect by early this week a response from them," said Garcia.

Last August, the FIDE Presidential Board, headed by Kirshan Ilyumzhinov, gave recognition to the NCFP without giving official notice to the PCF. The PCF, on its part, claimed that the FIDE Board recognition is effective only upon approval by the FIDE General Assembly which convenes on Nov. 3 in Turkey.

And Garcia does not know which to believe.

"NCFP said the official recognition of the FIDE is theirs but according to the PCF, it still needs approval by the FIDE Congress in November, ano ba talaga?" said Garcia.

Garcia confirmed reports that the PCF has yet to liquidate the P300,000 worth of financial assistance for the participation of GMs Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Buenaventura Villamayor and international masters Enrique Paciencia and Richard Bitoon in the Asian Zonals in Vung Tau, Vietnam in June but that's because Villamayor and Antonio had not yet submitted their liquidation papers. — Joey Villar