PSC to foot the bill for Philsoc

Once again, the Philippine Sports Commission is coming to the rescue of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee.

According to a very reliable source, the PSC has agreed to shoulder most of the bills hounding Philsoc barely 10 days after the Philippines emerged overall champion in the 23rd SEA Games.

Previous reports said that Philsoc, under Jose Cojuangco, is facing millions of pesos in unpaid bills for the accommodation, transportation and meals of foreign and local officials, and allowances of volunteers.

In Cebu alone, Philsoc is reportedly short of P7 million to pay three hotels, five food caterers and a bus firm. In Bacolod, the payables are even bigger at P15 million.

Bacolod Congressman Monico Puentevella, however, has given his word that as head of the Cebu and Bacolod cluster during the Games, he will take care, settle and resolve things.

"We shall solve it in the next few days. I am confident that with the help of the PSC and other sources, we will solve this especially now that we are the overall champion.

"We want to thank President Arroyo again for all the needed support from the very beginning. We shall also make sure that every centavo spent (in Bacolod and Cebu) will also be accounted for," he said.

But while problems in the south are almost ironed out, those in Manila seem to be a lot bigger as Philsoc, reports said, is running short by around P74 million. The PSC, however, has decided to come to the rescue, just the way it did in the months heading to the SEA Games when it poured in P100 million to Philsoc’s pocket.

"This is damage control. The PSC will step in and shoulder most of the bills. Sayang kasi ang success natin sa SEA Games," said a source close to both Philsoc and the PSC.

"Like someone coming to a brother’s aide, the PSC will shoulder most of the bills. The hotels will be paid for by the PSC. Hanggat kaya. Hindi lahat pero malaki," he added.

Butch Ramirez, PSC chairman, did not respond to text messages yesterday.

Earlier in the day, Cojuangco graced the SCOOP sa Kamayan forum where he lashed out at those "making a big issue out of this (unpaid bills)."

"Ano ba ang gusto nila mangyari? Ano ba ang sinasabi nila? Na hindi kami magbabayad? I cannot understand this. Hindi bale kung siguradong hindi sila mababayaran. Kapag hindi nangyari, tsaka sila mag-complain," he said.

"Why are they making it appear that Philsoc is running away from its obligations. There are obligations to Philsoc that we have yet to collect."

Robert Aventajado, chairman of the POC and Philsoc member, defended Cojuangco.

"I think instead of Mr. Cojuangco being asked in this manner, he has to be congratulated for being very creative in coming up with strategies as to how we could stretch the peso.

"We will be able to match payables with receivables. Therefore, even money yan. We are hoping na baka kumita pa ng kaunti ang Philippine Olympic Committee," he said.