The Philippine Online Chronicles

“The current state of Philippine sports is unimaginable!”

This was the assessment of former cyclist Senator Pia Cayetano, vice-chairperson of the Senate Committee on Sports, during yesterday's Senate inquiry on the dismal performance of Filipino athletes in recent international competitions.

Representatives of various National Sports Associations (NSA) under the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) faced off in the Senate to explain their sides on the latest controversies hounding Philippine sports.

'Selective funding'

POC chair Peping Cojuangco slammed the bankrolling body PSC for being “selective” in funding athletes in the recently-concluded Laos Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last month. He explained that PSC, despite receiving a “monthly budget of P45 million,” funded only “past gold and silver medalists in the SEA Games,” which he claimed deprived the younger athletes of the chance to represent the country in the biennial meet.

However, PSC Commissioner Vic Uy said that their budget is “too small” to fund the 250 athletes sanctioned by POC. He said that the “monthly budget” they receive is “only P30 million,” thus prompting them to fund a limited number of athletes.

“Though we respect the function of the NSAs and POC in sanctioning athletes who will compete abroad, our limited budget allows us to select proven medal winners in the past. If we will fund all athletes, we might go overboard on our mandate to properly disburse the PSC budget,” Uy said, adding that POC “agreed” upon PSC's criteria in funding past gold and silver medalists for the Laos SEA Games.

“Of course we will agree on that criteria because our medalists deserve such compensation,” Cojuangco explained. “However, we did not agree on their suggestion that that must be the only criteria. We need to send new athletes who have medal potentials and we explained that to PSC,” he added, citing the example of rookie wrestler Jason Balabal, who won a gold medal in Laos.

On their part, PSC legal counsel Paul Vega explained that their policy is to field “younger” athletes to youth tournaments like the Asian Youth Games. Cojuangco countered that such policy would just limit the potentials of young athletes.

Meanwhile, aquatics head Mark Joseph revealed that “77 percent” of the athletes gave PSC an “unsatisfactory rating” but “97 percent of them will still compete in international competitions.” The figures, he said, are part of a survey conducted by POC.

Uy said that the PSC will “address the concerns of POC” and that they are willing to undergo “financial audit from COA (Commission on Audit).”

'Deprived tenfold'

Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) President Michael Barredo bared that paragames medalists and athletes have not received any allowances from PSC since 2007.

“If the able-bodied athletes are deprived of funding and facilities, the differently abled athletes are deprived tenfold,” said an emotional Barredo, a former PSC Commissioner, who added that they also struggle in getting private funding for their athletes.

However, Vega said that “the PSC Charter (RA 6847) does not specify that we will fund disabled athletes, so it is not our obligation to fund them.”

“I think the PSC is wrong in depriving the differently-abled athletes of funds for they are legitimate national athletes... they compete in the Paralympics and Olympic-sanctioned events in the region,” Cayetano said during the inquiry. She also said in a post-hearing interview with this writer that PHILSPADA are “victims of discrimination by the PSC.”

“A Laos SEA Games gold medalist received P300,000 as incentive,” Barredo explained. “However, PSC allots only P25,000 for ASEAN ParaGames gold medalists. Our athletes have already won 41 gold medals since 2008, and they haven't gotten their incentives yet,” Barredo added.

“We have nothing against the PSC as a body. Our point here is that though we are differently abled, we bring pride and honor to our country and we must be compensated and treated equal with able-bodied athletes,” Barredo said in an interview with this writer.

When asked if the welfare of PHILSPADA athletes was raised in the current PSC administration, PSC Commissioner Eric Loretizo said “it is a concern” and that they will bring it up at the next PSC board meeting.

'Two teams'

The inquiry next tackled the cycling row issue, wherein an emotional Cayetano aired her “frustration” over the barring of cycling champion Maritess Bitbit in Laos.

“She told me personally that she only wanted to compete for the country. She is not putting blame on sports officials,” Cayetano revealed. “But what frustrates me is that sports officials are not doing any way to fix the issue and this was blown out of proportion,” she added.

Meanwhile, Samuel Estimo, legal counsel of the POC-accredited Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling), and Abraham Tolentino, president of the internationally-accredited Philippine Cycling Federation (PCF), aired their sides on the cycling row.

“We cannot allow the UCI (International Cycling Union) to dictate on our affairs. It is like saying that our country will allow the United Nations to name our President,” said Estimo, which was seconded by Cojuangco, who said that the POC and the NSAs are autonomous from international federations.

On his part, Tolentino claimed that PCF cyclists are the ones licensed by UCI. “That's why I beg the POC to accredit us, because we are the only ones allowed to compete internationally,” Tolentino said.

Senator Gringo Honasan, chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, branded the cycling row as “ridiculous,” saying that “we have two teams under one flag.”

“The essence of Philippine sports in the first place is that we must rally as one, under one flag,” he said.

'Resign all'

Cayetano said to this writer that “the national sports program must be overhauled.”

“If possible, all sports officials must resign and install sincere officials who will unite for Philippine sports,” she added.

She also said that the Committee on Sports are considering amending RA 6487 and to “possibly” draft new laws on Philippine sports that will lead to a “comprehensive” sports program.

Photo: “senator pia cayetano organized the event” by , c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.