Macapagal vows to streamline sports body

Leaning on his managerial expertise, POC presidential candidate Art Macapagal said yesterday he will professionalize the organization to make it results-oriented for the benefit of Filipino athletes.

“No matter how we rationalize it, the measure of the POC’s performance is how many medals we bring back from competitions like the Olympics,” he said. “Our common goal is to win the Olympic gold medal. My vision is to make the POC effective in attaining that goal.”

Macapagal, 66, said his motive in aspiring for the POC presidency is to push Philippine sports forward.

“I’m not just after a position,” he explained. “My focus is the Filipino athlete. Everything we do in the POC is directed towards building a support system for our athletes. When I get involved in something, I take the responsibility for the results. Before agreeing to run, I consulted my wife and family. I decided to go for it because I wouldn’t want to regret later if I turn down the chance to do something positive for Philippine sports.”

Macapagal, who is chairman and president of Toyota Pasong Tamo, said he will not give up his job if elected to the POC.

“I’m very conscious of time,” he said. “I think there is a lot of time that can be saved in the way the POC has been managed in the past. The POC presidency isn’t a full-time job. Quality, not quantity, of time is important. How you organize the POC to function efficiently is critical.”

Macapagal said if elected, he will hire a full-time, salaried executive director reporting to the POC secretary-general.

“The position of executive director is not clerical,” he went on. “He will be involved in implementation. I also plan to form a management team to monitor the training of athletes. We will work closely with the PSC to designate supervising managers for physical conditioning, mental training, nutrition and logistics. The manager-in-charge will do audits on how our athletes are performing and how our resources are being used.”

Macapagal said he will lobby for government support in two areas – the training of elite athletes and the institutionalization of an integrated sports development program.

Macapagal’s approach is to propose concrete programs and push for funding instead of just relying on what funds are available. He said the PAGCOR problem is a “policy matter” because of differing interpretations on the law regarding its allocation for sports. One interpretation is PAGCOR’s contribution is five percent of gross income. Another interpretation is five percent of 50 percent of the gross after ceding the other 50 percent to the treasury.

Macapagal said he would rather focus on issues that are within the POC’s control.

On the campaign, Macapagal said he never expected it to be as intense.

“I’d like to keep it on a positive note,” he said. “When there are IOC elections, nobody engages in mudslinging or personal attacks. Plans of action are circulated in confidential folders to avoid friction. When this is all over, I hope we can get together as one Olympic family and work as a team.”

Macapagal denied ever mentioning to reelectionist president Jose Cojuangco a plan to step down as Philippine National Shooting Association president.

As for alleged Malacañang pressure, Macapagal said there is no such thing.

“I can’t deny I am the President’s half-brother but she’s beyond exerting pressure on anyone to vote for me,” said Macapagal. “I have friends in government whom I ask the favor to introduce me to their friends who are POC voters. Nothing wrong with that. I think that’s the Filipino way. But exerting political pressure is out of the question.”

Macapagal said media and the public have the right to know what’s going on in the campaign because of the high interest value in sports.

As for the eligibility of voters in the POC polls on Nov. 28, Macapagal said he is not in a position to question anyone’s qualifications.

“It has always been the POC’s philosophy to recognize the autonomy of National Sports Associations,” he said. “If there are questions raised, I’m sure the Comelec headed by Concoy (Chaves) will settle issues fairly.”

Macapagal said he never ran for an elective position before.

“In 1987, the late Bren Guiao asked me to run as vice governor of Pampanga but I declined,” he said. “In 2004, I backed out from running for congressman when my sister ran for president. So this is my first time in an election. In whatever I do, I always try to do my best.”

Macapagal received the Triple-A award from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in 1979 and was cited as a distinguished alumnus in Business and Economics by San Beda College last year. The two-time Olympic shooter was a cum laude management graduate of San Beda in 1968 and earned a degree in Business Management at AIM in 1971.