Fund lack hampers RP bid in Olympics

The smaller the budget, the smaller our chances are.

Congressman Monico Puentevella yesterday reiterated that the Philippine Sports Commission would need much more than the P28 million it stands to receive this year under the General Appropriations Act.

"Or else, kiss any medal in the Beijing Olympics goodbye," said Puentevella, adding that to win the country’s first Olympic gold is of President Arroyo’s top priority as far as sports is concerned.

The PSC, the government’s funding arm in sports, had a budget of P70 million for 2005, but was jolted when the Department of Budget proposed a measly P28 million budget for the PSC this year.

Puentevella, a former PSC commissioner, said this is not the way to treat Philippine sports, considering that it just won the overall crown in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, and that it’s headed for bigger international competitions.

The 15th Asian Games is scheduled December this year in Doha, Qatar while the Beijing Olympics is set next year. According to the Bacolod lawmaker, this is not the time to cut the PSC budget.

Puentevella carried the fight for the PSC when he filed a House resolution seeking a P250 million for the sports agency. At least 70 congressmen signed the resolution, only to be thumbed down by the Senate, which stuck to the proposed P28 million PSC budget by the DBM.

The only hope now remaining for the PSC is the bicameral committee, which is supposed to convene by the end of this month.

"I’m optimistic we can work it out in the bicameral committee hearing with the senators. I’m optimistic that they will reward and not insult the athletes after our triumph in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

"Most of them I know are sports-minded. We shall overcome," Puentevella said.

The long-time PSC commissioner said Congressman Rolando Andaya, who heads the appropriations committee, wants the issue on the PSC budget settled before he moves on as the new secretary of the budget department.