PSC, Aussies to forge new accord

After nailing a new partnership program with China last month, the Philippine Sports Commission is embarking on another bilateral agreement with long-time partner Australia with an aim of further enhancing the country’s chances in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and the next 2005 SEAG, which the Philippines is hosting.

PSC chairman Eric Buhain leaves tonight for a five-day visit to Melbourne and Canberra upon the invitation of the Australian Sports Commission.

Buhain brought a lean team that included executive secretary Enrico Buan, tasked to meet with ASC officials for the duration of the trip before a new agreement is signed.

The group is also set to meet with officials of the Victorian Institute of Sports, which agreed to form cooperative linkages between the two organizations. VIS executive director Dr. Frank Pyke, in his letter to Buhain, described the trip as a "very busy one for meetings, conferences and functions" that Buhain and company expect a very tight schedule before the twin agreements are forged with the hosts.

ASC manager for international affairs Gabrielle Duschner also bared ASC plans to provide assistance to Philippine sports in the lead up to the 2003 Games, which will be included in the Memorandum of Agreement, which is actually the third signed between the two countries.

Australia and the Philippines had earlier forged sports partnerships during the terms of former PSC chairmen Philip Ella Juico and Carlos "Butch" Tuason.