No quarrel with PSC plan, says Romasanta.
The Philippine Olympic Committee is more than willing to work closely with the Philippine Sports Commission its bid to play an active role in the affairs of the national sports associations, two leading POC officials said yesterday.
POC first vice-president Joey Romasanta and POC chairman Tom Carrasco expressed support to PSC chairman Butch Ramirez’s hands-on approach in the monitoring of the training and recruitment of athletes bound for international competitions.
“We share the same vision and chairman Butch Ramirez is right when he said the PSC has visitorial powers,” said Romasanta, noting that since the PSC is financing the NSAs’s overseas trips and training, it has right to dip its fingers in their affairs.
While the POC is not contesting the PSC, Romasanta maintains that it would be better for the two sides to sit down together and “define the roles.”
Romasanta feels that the PSC’s direct involvement will prevent finger-pointing when something disastrous happens after a competition.
“Para wala ng sisihan,” said Romasanta, referring to the string of hearings being conducted each time a delegations ends up faring badly in overseas events like the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.
Carrasco also echoed Romasanta’s views on the PSC’s bold move.
“After consulting with (POC) secretary general Steve Hontiveros and Joey (Romasanta) even before the intersection meeting with the PSC (on Tuesday), we feel that we should welcome the efforts of (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez to thoroughly re-evaluate for possible redirections in the sports development and management of our country,” said Carrasco.
“We would like to see concrete plans and specifics and we are committed to have an open mind and heart,” added Carrasco.
Ramirez insists that the PSC’s plans to become a lot more aggressive is not something to be concerned about.
“We are just going to enforce RA 6847, that’s all,” said Ramirez, stressing that athletes and coaches and NSA officials who receive funding have responsibilities like government workers.