PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman Noli Eala has his work cut out for him when he tries to convince Congress to pass the proposed P5.2-billion PSC budget as part of the General Appropriations Act for 2023, according to a very reliable source.
While the figure may appear huge, a big chunk — P3.5 billion — will be earmarked to build the Philippine Sports Training Center in Bagac, Bataan, based on Republic Act 11214 that was passed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 14, 2019.
Complete with all the needed facilities, the PSTC will be the permanent home for national coaches and athletes in a virtually pollution-free environment and away from the distractions of the Big City. The complex is expected to be built in four years once the budget is released.
Another chunk of the proposed PSC allotment in the national budget is meant for grassroots sports development, based on Republic Act 6847, the PSC law, which Eala said will be one of his priorities.
“Grassroots sports development is one of the primary adjectives of the commission,” the source stressed.
The PSC insider also revealed that the Department of Budget and Management had earmarked P218 million for the PSC in the National Expenditures Program.
The source added that the steady rise of the monthly Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. remittances to the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund, which has been averaging P90 million for the last three months, may still not be enough to support the country’s major international commitments next year.
The Pagcor remittances go to the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund, which the government sports agency uses to support coaches and athletes in the national pool, including their allowances and training needs, and the funds for international competitions.
The PSC recently announced that it was asking P546 million for five of the nine big international events eyed for the country’s campaigners in 2023, including P250 million for the Philippine participation in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games in May next year.
The amount for the biennial regional games is slightly higher than the P223 million that the government sports agency spent for the Vietnam SEA Games last May.
The PSC is eyeing P100 million for the 19th Asian Games on Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, 2023 in Hangzhou, China; P72 million for the 4th World Combat Games from Oct. 5 to 14, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; P67 million for the 6th Asian Indoor Games on Nov. 17-26, in Bangkok and Chonburi, Thailand; and P56 million for the 2nd World Beach Games from Aug. 5-17 in Bali, Indonesia.
