Tuason urges unity amid looming budget cut

As local sports faces another crisis with an impending huge cut in government allocation, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Tuason yesterday urged the various sectors of the community to band together and work for a common cause.

"It is not the time to get divided, everybody must unite and play roles to avoid the specter of Philippine sports breaking into pieces. Only by being together can we find ways to get out of this predicament," said Tuason.

On Monday, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin had bared a P107 million allocation for the PSC, endangering among others, the sports agency’s plans of going all out in its preparations for the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, Korea, the 2003 Vietnam SEA Games, the Batang Pinoy Games as well as the revival of the Palarong Pambansa. Also to be affected are the upgrading of the athletes’ dormitories and maintaining venues for their comfort and well being.

The PSC had originally asked for P249 million but the economic bind worsened further due to the current global crisis and has severely affected the country’s financial landscape. The proposed 2002 figure is P141 million lower than the request of PSC for P248 million.

Together with the other officials of PSC, Tuason met with various heads of National Sports Associations last night where he was to thoroughly discuss ways of addressing the needs of athletes better in the face of the budget problem.

"We will need the help of everybody for us to prepare for this incoming big storm and hopefully this meeting will provide us some insights," Tuason said.

Tuason was even more concerned with the planned revival of the Palarong Pambansa, which was transferred to the PSC under RA 9155. They believe that the Palaro is very crucial in talent search especially those who will carry the country’s colors in the 2005 SEAG the country will host.