Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez said yesterday that the plan to relocate the athletes training for this year’s Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games in Iba, Zambales is purely a Philippine Olympic Committee matter and not of the PSC.
Ramirez said that while the government’s financial arm for sports will remain a partner in training the athletes, the decision to move the SEAG-bound bets to the province is up to the POC.
“I give it up to them,” said Ramirez when contacted by Bulletin-Tempo.
“I told them (POC) to just take care of our athletes, especially their safety. I’m sure pinag-iisipan naman ng mabuti yan ng POC. If it’s not safe, that’s the only time we’ll interfere regarding this matter.
“But there are lots of things to consider, like the athletes studying in Metro Manila. Also is if the athletes would be comfortable in that place in Iba. But of course, we will continue to give support.”
During the POC general assembly meeting last Wednesday in Wack Wack Golf Club, POC president Peping Cojuangco Jr. aired the possibility of transferring the athletes to Zambales.
This is due to the impending sale of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the renovations that will be made on the Philsports Complex (formerly ULTRA) in Pasig City.
