Butch: Us not meddle? Then stop asking for money!
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) fired back at the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) yesterday with chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez telling the POC to stop asking for financial assistance and instead look elsewhere for help.
“They want us not to meddle? Then, they have to stop asking us for money,” Ramirez told TEMPO after POC president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco assailed the government agency for dipping its hands into POC matters.
Cojuangco insists that the PSC should stick to funding the activities of national sports associations and focus on grassroots development as provided by law.
But Ramirez swears that the PSC should care for the funds being released as this is the people’s money.
“We can’t just give out money without knowing how it was spent. Remember, this is taxpayers money and the public has the right to know how these NSAs spent it.”
Ramirez said the PSC’s plan to provide some NSAs training choices is proof that the government wants to maximize the funds being given to athletes.
Citing the leadership troubles that have become uncommon the past decade, Ramirez says the PSC can afford not to release funds to NSAs that have liquidation and leadership problems.
“Giving funds to NSAs is not automatic. We can decide not to provide if we see that that NSA doesn’t deserve to be given because their leaders are not performing their duties. Getting funding is not a right but a privilege,” said Ramirez.
Under the law it is the PSC that spends for the training and travel of athletes bound for competition but Ramirez maintains that the agency has the option not to.