Chiz rues sports not among government priorities

MANILA, Philippines - Opposition Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday said the ugly cycle of conflicts between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) would not stop unless government puts sports among its top priorities.

Escudero made the comment as national athletes are again caught in a crossfire between top officials of the PSC, the government’s funding agency in sports, and the POC, composed of officials of the various national sports associations (NSAs) which are non-government organizations (NGOs), while they are preparing to compete in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos from Dec. 9-18.

Court cases have been filed by PSC and POC leaders against each other.

“Looking back, the conflicts have become a vicious cycle although there is only one cause of friction that is igniting these misunderstandings and it is money, shortness or lack of it,” Escudero said.

“Of course there is never enough if the PSC would fund nearly 40 NSAs, but with the very little share the PSC is getting from the yearly appropriation, it has no choice but to spread everything to satisfy all. But NSAs, majority of which do not have their own source of funding but the PSC, will never be satisfied,” Escudero said.

Escudero lamented the fact that sports was never given enough attention by President Arroyo since she took power in 2001.

“If sports was ever mentioned in all her important state of the nation addresses, it was just once and never again. But Malacañang is quick to ride on the success of Manny Pacquiao, whose heroism is important in giving the country a boost in morale, but Philippine sports is not only about Pacquiao,” Escudero added.

The PSC used to receive P400 million a year early since it was created in 1990. Its share of the national budget, however, has been dwindling as sports is no longer among the government’s top priorities.