PSC CHAIR WANTS BETTER TRAINING VENUE FOR PHL ATHLETES
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 Jan 2014
Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia stressed the need to increase his agency?s budget in order to improve the athletes? lot and provide them with necessary facilities for training.
Garcia, who was guest in last Thursday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan On Air, at the same time, expressed the need for the construction of a national training center to replace the 80-year-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex , adding that the country?s and Asia?s first stadium has lost its usefulness.
?To build a new stadium, however, as well as providing our athletes adequate international standard training equipment to prepare them for international competitions, we need more money,? Garcia said during the program aired over DZAR and broadcasted live via streaming at www.sonshinetvradyo.com.
?We have money, yes, but kulang. Hindi sapat sa pangangailangan ng ating mga atleta lalo na sa kanilang praparasyon sa international competitions like the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Gamesw and the Olympic Games,? he said in reference to the P700 million to P800 million annual budget the PSC is receiving from the General appropriations Act, PAGCOR and other sources.
?The results of the just-concluded SEA Games once again showed the insufficient training of our athletes due to lack of a training center equipped with modern equipment as well as the superiority of their peers from our neighboring countries who have been provided with modern facilities we, unfortunately lack,? he emphasized.
?That is why we will be appealing to our lawmakers for an increase on financial requirements when the hearing for next year?s budget is conducted,? Garcia, a golfer and former director of the National Golf Association of the Philippines, said.
Besides the PSC?s allotment from the GAA, Garcia said the board of commissioners will be seeking the help of the private sectors and look for assistance from other countries where his agency has an exchange sports program.
?We will also be looking on how the PSC can recover the almost 50 percent it lost from its share of the PAGCOR annual income,? he said, referring to a provision in the Republic Act 6847, otherwise known as the PSC Law granting the agency five percent of PAGCOR?S gross income.
For several years now, the five percent of PAGCOR?s gross income had been reduced to five percent of the gaming agency?s net income that took effect during the administration of President Ramos.
?If we can revert back to the old provision, which has not been repealed in the first place, malaking tulong yun so we can start construction of a national training center,? the PSC top honcho said.
?It saddened me seeing countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and even former war-torn nations like Laos and Myanmar already have international standard venue, while he Philippines which has the distinction of building Asia?s first stadium has none,? Garcia lamented.
Garcia said the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, which was constructed in connection with the country?s hosting of the 10th and last edition Far Eastern Games, forerunner of the now Asian Games in 1934, is no longer an ideal place as training venue of athletes.
?It?s already antiquated, besides being so polluted at maraming temptation na nagiging distraction sa training n gating atleta,? he said. ?Marami na akong nakikitang atleta natin na galing sa probinsya na isang linggo pa lang sa Rizal inuubo at sinisipon na.?
?We also have apprehended several athletes engaging in drugs even while inside the complex. Kaya hindi na talaga dapat tirahan and, much more, venue for training,? Garcia said.
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