Incoming PSC chief on athletes’ woes: No easy problem

Incoming Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain yesterday met with the officers of the Athletes and Coaches Alliance of the Philippines (ACAP), listened to and listed their demands, then promptly declared his readiness to help solve them.

"But it’s not going to be easy," said Buhain, calm and collected despite getting an earful of the athletes’ problems regarding financial assistance, training venues and equipment, vitamins and food, and their poor living conditions.

"Yesterday is water under the bridge. Now, the PSC must scrutinize everything," said Buhain, who was recently appointed by President Arroyo to replace Carlos "Butch" Tuason. "But you must help me, too. Give me the details and I’ll tell you pointblank when it will be solved."

The ACAP officers led by Jaime Sebastian of weightlifting also recommended to the incoming PSC chief, a bemedalled swimmer, the retention of William "Butch" Ramirez as commissioner. Ramirez tendered his resignation last Wednesday.

Also included in the demands of the very same athletes who staged two protest rallies in Malacanang last year were transparency, good governance, no favoritism (Buhain being a swimmer) and that their plight be given utmost priority.

"I can assure you that there will be no favoritism. My love for swimming will never be different from my love for the other sports. In fact, the reason I took this challenge is because you’re all here. Magka-kasama, magka-kaibigan at magka-kapatid tayo dito," he said.

"We are working on a limited budget but this is not enough reason for us not to improve," said Buhain, who was presented by the ACAP officers with the same "GMA Save Philippine Sports" t-shirt, which they wore during their recent rallies.

"We now have to change this to ‘GMA Saved Philippine Sports,’" said Buhain, pointing to the message written in black, and drawing a warm round of applause from the ACAP officers at the VIP Room of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.