House okays P10M for Olympic bets

Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, the committee chairman, has approved the release of P10 million to be used in the training of the Filipino athletes who will vie in the coming Olympics.

Philippines Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez yesterday announced the fresh development, saying the P10 million would serve the athletes in good stead.

“Congress has seen that a continued and sustained support is needed in our Olympic campaign,” said Ramirez. “The godfathers are coming in and the members of the House are helping, too.”

The PSC has allocated P30 million for the Olympic campaign this year. Officials are looking at close to 20 Filipinos to qualify for the Games and hopefully give the country its first gold.

But officials believe that the amount won’t be enough to fund a top-level training for the athletes barely six months before the Olympics scheduled to begin on Aug. 8.

This is why sports officials, including Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco and chef-de-mission and Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella are looking for more donors.

Puentevella said he is preparing a short but distinguished list of individuals from the private sector as potential godfathers to RP athletes who will qualify to the Olympics.

Then one by one or as a group, they will be presented to President Arroyo, who is on top of the Olympic program, hopefully along with the sport they’ve chosen to help.

Taekwondo and boxing have already found a godfather in PLDT-Smart through its chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Other sports under the program are archery, lawn tennis, swimming, diving, fencing, rowing, weightlifting and wushu.