PSC budget next year approved at P208 M

The Philippine Sports Commission will have to make do with P208.5 million for its budget next year as approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives in earlier budget hearings.

It didn’t take more than five minutes for the bicameral committee to approve the said budget that would cover the RP athletes’ training and preparations in various international competitions.

The PSC had hoped for additional funds since there‘s a lot of programs that need more financial support next year.

“The good thing is that we have some money and we just have to make do with what we have and maximize them,” said PSC commissioner Ritchie Garcia.

Also present with Garcia in the budget hearing were PSC chair Butch Ramirez and commissioners Eric Loretizo and Akiko Thomson.

The country is gearing up for the Asian Youth Games, which serves as the qualifier for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, and the Southeast Asian Games in Laos. It will also start its early preparations for the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

“We were hoping to get more. Maybe we’ll just ask the President for special funds,” said Garcia.

Aside from the foreign trips, the PSC is also looking to firming up its grassroots development program since their medium-range target is producing athletes with Olympic medal potential.

The PSC is also looking beyond the London Games as part of its long-term development plan.

“That’s one of our plans, we need to have a strong grassroots base,” said Loretizo.

In line with this, the PSC is reviving the Batang Pinoy, a multi-sports event for students and out-of-school youths aged 12 years and below tentatively set next summer.   – Joey Villar