PSC confident First Gent will renew support

Philippine Sports Commission chair William "Butch" Ramirez will meet with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo on March 6, hoping to convince him to spearhead the fund-raising drive again for the national athletes’ preparations for the 2006 Doha Asian Games slated Dec. 1-15.

Ramirez said he is confident the First Gent will reconsider his earlier decision to stay away from the sporting limelight after drawing flak from various sectors for sending all Filipino SEA Games gold medal winners to Hong Kong and for going onstage after Manny Pacquiao’s victory over Mexican Erik Morales last month.

"I don’t see any problem, I’m confident he (Arroyo) would listen to us," Ramirez said.

Ramirez is expected to arrive today in Manila from Tubod, Lanao del Norte where he delivered a keynote address in a sports summit organized by the province.

The meeting was initially set last Friday but was postponed in the aftermath of President Arroyo’s declaration of national state of emergency.

Ramirez said his meeting with Mr. Arroyo is important since the latter’s support would boost the morale of the athletes and help the cash-strapped sports agency in implementing its training programs in line with the RP athletes’ Asian Games buildup. The First Gentleman Foundation was able to raise P160 million for the national athletes who competed the last SEAG.

"It’s going to be crucial not only for the athletes but for RP sports as well because it will help us big should Congress decides to allot us only P28 million," said Ramirez, referring to the meager funds allotted by the lower house.

The Davao-based former educator hopes the fund-raising campaign would start this month as the Nationals are expected to start their preparations for the quadrennial games, which is barely 10 months away.

The PSC and the athletes also found an ally in Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo.

"I met him (Mr. Arroyo) recently and I told him not to turn his back on sports, instead support the athletes again," said Dimaporo. "Without the support of the First Gentleman, we wouldn’t have won the SEA Games overall championship."