Ayala pledges full support to Patafa

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala Corporation, the high-level business empire of the Ayala family, is giving the Philippine Athletics Federation (Patafa) the extra push.

Philip Ella Juico, the Patafa president, yesterday presented representatives of Ayala Corp. to Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.

“We discussed Ayala Corporation’s planned donation to Patafa, an assistance that will cover a period of four years all the way to the 2020 Olympics,” said Juico.

Representatives of Ayala Corp. virtually said sky is the limit in their offer to help Patafa and eventually Philippine sports in general.

“They asked for Patafa’s plan and we presented them our plan,” said Juico in welcoming the Ayala offer like a whiff of fresh air.

The sport of athletics calls for an enormous budget, and Juico said the entry of Ayala Corp. will provide the Filipino track athletes anything the government can’t.

“Last year, Patafa had a budget of around P42 million from the government (PSC) but this year being a SEA Games year we are asking for P65 million,” Juico told The STAR.

“What the government can’t provide, Ayala Corporation can as we look forward to this year’s SEA Games, our hosting of the SEA Games in 2019 and then the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,” he added.

The assistance from Ayala Corporation, which is currently building a modern track stadium in Imus, Cavite, can and will be used for tax-exemption purposes.

Juico said he asked the PSC chairman to find ways to expedite the process with the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue).

He also said Ayala’s generosity “can serve as a model for other companies” and for other NSAs (national sports associations) to avail of.