POC, PSC set in motion AG buildup

Working on the same agenda, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission have started laying down the groundwork for the country’s preparation and participation in this year’s Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

POC president Celso Dayrit yesterday met with PSC chairman Eric Buhain in the two sports officials’ first meeting since the latter took over from Butch Tuason last month.

"We are working at the same direction, focusing on both short and long term plans," said Dayrit.

"He (Buhain) gave the NSAs (national sports associations) an assurance of the PSC’s continuous support starting with this year’s Asian Games up to the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games in 2005," he added.

In the meeting, Buhain promised no budgetary cuts this year, meaning the PSC will allocate P120 million, the same amount used last year which was a SEA Games year.

The amount will be used to cover expenses, purchase of equipment, athletes’ training, hiring of coaches and international exposures.

At the same time, Buhain stressed he would make sure that NSAs which perform well in competitions abroad will get additional funding.

"It just goes to show that Eric indeed knows how it is to be an athlete," said Dayrit, who was a member of the RP delegation as fencer in the 1987 Jakarta SEAG.

Dayrit and Buhain will continue to hold talks with heads of the various NSAs until they can come up with a sure-fire plan of performing well in international competitions like the Asiad and the SEAG.