Shooting from hip

POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros said yesterday it’s crucial to determine who owns the Rizal Memorial complex before the PSC engages a third party in a contract to rehabilitate any of its facilities.

“I remember during the administration of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, the city government claimed ownership of the Rizal complex,” said Hontiveros. “The matter was never settled. To this day, nobody knows who’s the real owner. Is it the city or the national government?”

Hontiveros clarified that the POC is not claiming ownership or even the right to manage the complex. And regarding the PSC’s recent memorandum of agreement with De La Salle University, he said the terms and conditions must be made known to the National Sports Associations (NSAs) affected by the partnership.

“What’s it all about?” asked Hontiveros, a La Salle graduate. “We don’t know how it will affect the NSAs for football and athletics. We want to see if the terms are favorable. Maybe, another party can offer better terms.”

POC deputy secretary-general Mark Joseph announced that the General Assembly recently passed a unanimous resolution denouncing the PSC memorandum with La Salle. He claimed the agreement will convert the Rizal football and track stadium “into an extension of La Salle so that La Salle can convert its existing football field into school buildings.”

Additionally, Joseph sent this text: “I am a La Sallian (from Greenhills and a sports Hall of Famer) and having read the PSC Law, it clearly says that the POC shall have FULL control and supervision over Rizal Memorial. Nowhere in the PSC Law is there a provision for the commercialization and cannibalization or sub-contracting of Rizal Memorial and other public sports facilities under its control and supervision to other parties. Will the pool go to Adamson and badminton to Ateneo? Let’s stop and think about it. It’s the law, after all. In fairness to La Salle, maybe the PSC should be transparent and provide all concerned with copies of its MOA with La Salle.”

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For what it’s worth, my opinion is the POC overreacted to the PSC agreement with La Salle and prematurely denounced it without first finding out the facts. Hontiveros himself admitted the POC has no clue as to the terms and conditions of the agreement. I think the POC shot from the hip on this one. Perhaps, the POC could’ve denounced the PSC for not involving the pertinent NSAs in negotiating the agreement but I don’t think it was right to denounce the agreement itself off the bat – simply because the terms aren’t even known by the General Assembly.

One other thing, Section 23 of the PSC Law – R. A. 6847 enacted in 1990 – clearly stipulates that the PSC has full control and management of the Rizal Memorial facilities. Not the POC.

One more thing, the ownership issue brought out by Hontiveros is beside the point. It doesn’t really matter if the city or national government owns the Rizal Memorial complex. What’s vital is the PSC has jurisdiction over the complex and therefore, the authority to enter into agreements, as it sees fit, in managing or supervising the facilities – without, of course, selling off the assets. The agreements are subject to scrutiny by government auditors – not by the POC.

PSC lawyer Paul Vega told The Star yesterday no NSA office will be displaced as a result of the agreement which has two components – the rehabilitation of the football field and the establishment of a Sports Academy which will use the dormitories in the North and South wing towers of the track oval as classrooms.

Vega said in exchange for coughing up P7.4 million to rehabilitate the football field, La Salle is allowed use of the turf up to 18 hours a week. La Salle will also provide the teachers for the Sports Academy where tuition is free.

As a willing party to this public service, La Salle doesn’t deserve to be dragged into the war between the POC and PSC – a war that is political, emotional and self-serving. The agreement does not cede authority over any Rizal Memorial facility to La Salle. Yet, La Salle is committed to the full rehabilitation and restoration of the football field. Additionally, La Salle will run the Sports Academy that seeks to assist national athletes, including retirees, in accessing education that is “essential in providing them with opportunities for livelihood.” La Salle should be commended, not chastised, for taking the bold step forward in championing the cause of sports development.

Joseph mentioned that La Salle plans to convert its campus football field into school buildings. Nothing wrong with that. It’s a La Salle system decision, no doubt, with education as the primary consideration. The POC has no business questioning that. Was La Salle motivated into rehabilitating the Rizal football field because of the conversion? Perhaps. But speculating on La Salle’s motive is irrelevant. What’s relevant is La Salle’s commitment to rehabilitate the Rizal football field – a program that is long overdue. And with La Salle’s participation, the PSC is able to rechannel funds otherwise used in the rehabilitation for athletes’ training and exposure.

If the POC wants to know the terms and conditions of the memorandum, it should ask the PSC – or La Salle. There’s nothing secret about the memorandum. One phonecall should do it. But the right way isn’t to denounce it and ask questions later.