Athletes set march versus PSC

A number of national athletes, coaches and leaders of the various national sports associations (NSAs) are reportedly set to march to Malacañang Monday to dramatize their clamor for a change in the leadership at the Philippine Sports Commission.

The group met yesterday and drafted an open letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, asking the Chief Executive to initiate a shakeup at the country’s top sports body for its failure to address their problems and needs.

However, PSC chair Butch Tuason told The STAR that their problems have already been addressed, particularly with regard to the national athletes, who are the country’s spearheads to various international competitions.

The plan to stage a rally came one day after the President was reported to have tapped aerobics exponent and physical fitness buff Cynthia Norton to a commissioner’s post in the sports agency.

The group, led by Athletes Union vice president Jaime Sebastian, has blamed Tuason for their poor performances in past international competitions due to what it described as inadequate PSC support accorded them.

According to the letter, the PSC has priorities which appear to be the "various never-ending and unsystematic renovation and construction of athletic facilities without the benefit of an overall master plan for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex."

They also accused Tuason of his "misplaced priority and wanton spending" on renovation and numerous international and local junkets along with his commissioners and favorite employees, which they said have resulted to their delayed allowances, substandard meals, reduction in much-needed foreign competition and lack of training supplies and equipment.

They added that in spite of the RP’s deteriorating performance in international event, the PSC still could not come up with a rational plan of action to counter this which addressed specifically to the 2001 SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, Korea and the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

"Mr. Tuason has no plan, no vision, no imagination, and is not dedicated and persevering. These are the reasons why Philippine sports today is in a drift. Walang nangyayari, walang dedikasyon at saysay, kaya walang improvement at pasama ng pasama," the letter said.