PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) OIC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez on Sunday bared plans of tapping private sector support for the four Tokyo Olympics-bound Filipino athletes as government funds, including the PSC’s, remained focused on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As we all know, the President [Duterte] utilized our budget for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” Fernandez said. “So we will be calling out to our supporters.”
Boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo have qualified for the Tokyo Games, but funding their training, and those who are still hoping to qualify, took a beating because of the pandemic.
The PSC’s biggest source of funds, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.-fed National Sports Development Fund, is almost depleted because casinos remain shuttered. Malacañang has also redirected its budget to the pandemic, including the PSC’s from general appropriations.
“If government funding remains a huge obstacle in the second half of the year, the PSC will try to reach for financial assistance from the big companies to safeguard the training of the national athletes who are preparing for the Tokyo Olympics,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez, the PSC OIC as Chairman William Ramirez is on leave, told the PSC Chatroom that he will talk with Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham Tolentino and Team Philippines Chef de Mission Mariano Araneta to also discuss the condition of athletes who are gunning for Olympic spots.
Tolentino earlier said he would lobby in Congress for the return of the PSC’s P1.3 billion budget that were redirected for the government’s response against the pandemic.
“It is important that the athletes are now turning to higher gear in their training,” Fernandez said. “We have to knock on the doors of the private sector. The financial requirement of the athletes is a concern. We have to look for money.”