OCA chief out to help Phl farmers

MANILA, Philippines - Sports took a backseat yesterday as Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait announced that he is spearheading a project that would fully benefit Filipino farmers.

To get the ball rolling, the former chairman of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) signed a memorandum of agreement with Philippine Olympic Committee chief Jose Cojuangco.

Together, they put up the Kuwait-Philippines Peace and Development Foundation, whose primary aim is to help farmers in Eastern Samar and Leyte, provinces hard hit by the recent Typhoon Yolanda.

Al-Sabah, who will fund the project, will serve as chairman of the foundation, and Cojuangco its president.

How much the project would initially cost was not divulged during yesterday’s MOA signing at Sofitel Philippine Plaza but it was specified that it would start very soon.

Initially, it will cover rice production, and the Sheikh said he’s hoping it would eventually spread out to the different branches of agriculture.

“This project is the best opportunity for us to provide a good environment for the people after Haiyan (Yolanda),” said the Sheikh.

“We can help in the recovery by providing this environment for the farmers. And this is a very good opportunity for our people to show our friendship. For that I want to show my gratitude and my thanks,” he added. 

Al-Sabah is in the country for the 32nd OCA general assembly, a gathering of the top sports leaders from the 45 member countries, today at the Philippine International Convention Center.

On sports, Al-Sabah said the other day OCA is hoping to maintain 39 to 40 sports in the Asian Games calendar after Incheon hosts the quadrennial event this September.

The Sheikh is hoping that with the 28 Olympic sports, the calendar of events in the Asian Games will be limited to no more than 40, including regional, local, traditional and indigenous sports.

“We’re not trying to increase but keep the size to 39 or 40,” said Al-Sabah.

“This is a project which the Sheikh and I have talked about and it’s about agriculture,” the POC president said in a very short press briefing.

“We’re hoping that with this program we’ll be able to help primarily the people, the farmers in Samar and Leyte affected by Typhoon Yolanda,” said Cojuangco.

“The Sheikh and I have agreed to help each other out in this particular endeavor.  It’s not just about rebuilding the area but providing livelihood for the people,” he added.