THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) would drastically reduce expenses after Malacañang, through the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, imposed stiff priorities on government spending.
As a results, the PSC would no longer fund the country’s hosting of the twice-postponed Asean Para Games and shelved major activities such as the Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy.
“We heed the call of the national government to cut expenses as we reroute majority of our resources to fighting the pandemic,” PSC Chairman William Ramirez said.
“But we also stand by our commitment to keep supporting members of the national team,” he added.
Ramirez presided over the PSC’s virtual board meeting on Wednesday to draw measures to fulfill the agency’s commitment within the and Management (DBM) which advised to halt non-priority projects under the National Budget Circular 580.
Despite withdrawing support for the 10th Asean Para Games that were moved tentatively for September, Ramirez said the PSC would honor its previous commitment to finance the Games Organizing Committee’s initial operations expenses.
The PSC committed P400 million for the country’s hosting of the Para Games, P100 million of which was already released to the Philippine Paralympic Committee headed by Michael Barredo.
Ramirez also put on status quo the release of allowances for national athletes and coaches, which were jeopardized because the lockdown has resulted to the closure of casinos, the principal source of the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
“We continue to study projections and proposals and the board is ready to take necessary actions should they be needed,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez thanked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for having released P409.10 million representing its share to the NSDF for the first quarter of the year. The PSC sources its funds from the NSDF for elite sports programs.
Joining Ramirez in the virtual meetings were Commissioners Celia Kiram, Ramon Fernandez, Arnold Agustin and Charles Maxey, Executive Director Merlita Ibay, Deputy Executive Directors Dennis Rivera and Atty. Guillermo Iroy and Chief of Staff Marc Velasco.
Ramirez, however, did not confirm if the PSC would employ a social amelioration program for national athletes and coaches after Pagcor officials said its remittance to the PSC would end this month.
Pagcor has zero revenue during the enhanced community quarantine because casinos all over the country were closed, and will remain shut until May 15.