POC eyes breakthru in sports program

Before the country’s finest athletes, both amateur and professional, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco yesterday called for a major change in the set-up of Philippine sports.

Cojuangco spoke at the annual Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards rites at the SM Mall of Asia, and after toasting RP’s greatest sports achievers in 2006 delivered the big news.

Cojuangco said through Congressman Renato Unico Jr., the POC, together with Philippine Sports Commission officials led by William Ramirez, filed a bill amending and upgrading Republic Act 6847.

A first important amendment in RA 6847, which was enacted on Jan. 24, 1990 under the Aquino administration, is that commissioners of the PSC must come from recommendees of the POC.

"We have discovered there is a need to make certain changes if we hope to continue the upgrading of our competitiveness in international sports," said Cojuangco.

"And our vision is not limited to the successful participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We hope to establish a structure that will be able to continue this program of improvement until the Philippines can be rated among the top," he added.

Under RA 6847, members of the PSC board, a chairman and four commissioners, are named by the President and since they are political appointees, their terms are co-terminus with that of the Chief Executive.

Cojuangco is hoping that things will soon change.

"What could be better than having the people running this institution very well acquainted with the POC’s program, the POC being the entity recognized by the International Olympic Committee," Cojuangco said.

"At the same time, we are assured of a harmonious relation between the two most important organizations on sports. You and I know how important it is to have the POC and PSC working together."

Under the bill that was filed, commissioners, including the chairman, should have a fixed term of six years, but that their terms be staggered so that not all of them will end their terms at the same time just to ensure continuity of the PSC programs.

Cojuangco said they also plan to file a bill that would elevate the PSC to a level that its chairman would be entitled to attend Cabinet meetings in order to maintain a permanent link with Malacañang.

"Under our present set-up, sports does not have a direct voice in the Cabinet," said Cojuangco, adding that another amendment should be in regard to tax exemption for sports equipment since there is a serious "mix-up" in this provision.

Sports officials are also hoping that congressmen and senators can allocate some of their so-called pork barrel for sports," said Cojuangco in his prepared speech.

If enacted, this will certainly bring good news to the Filipino athletes who were represented in yesterday’s affair by pro boxer Manny Pacquiao and amateur sluggers and Doha Asian Games gold medalists Violito Payla and Joan Tipon, wushu star Rene Catalan, bowling’s Biboy Rivera, cue artist Ronnie Alcano, Antonio Gabica and Django Bustamante and other greats, both past and present.