CLOSELY working with Malacanang and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., new Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala aims to “once and for all” settle the controversial issue of Pagcor’s remittance of five percent of its gross income to the PSC as required by law.
“This is a very important point (because) without funds the PSC’s programs will not run.
Without the correct funding we will not be able to expand on what has already been built,” Eala said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association
Forum.
“I plan to present this to the Office of the President and Pagcor because I believe that this is an important policy direction that should be tackled and consulted with them so we can settle the issue once and for all,” he said.
Under Republic Act 6847, the law that created the PSC in 1990, Pagcor is mandated to remit five percent of its gross income to the PSC’s National Sports Development Fund, where the PSC gets its funding for its various plans and program, including its support for National Sports Associations and national athletes for training and international competition.
While there was a marked increase in remittances to the PSC during the term of former PSC chairman Butch Ramirez, it was still short of the five percent that Pagcor is required to remit under RA 6847.
Not wanting to discuss what his predecessors did or did not do regarding the issue, Eala believes all it needs is the proper presentation so this provision in the law can be finally implemented.
“I think (the five percent) is not issue. Pagcor has been very supportive of Philippine sports. It is just a matter of ensuring the bigger rational in the funding of sports,” the PSC chief said.
He said that Pagcor should be sold on “the program that the PSC will implement. My own strategy is a presentation of not only the law but the provision of the law vis-a-vis the funding (of the program) it will support.
“Ano ‘yung programa para suportahan ng tamang pondo. This is something that is going to be discussed in my agenda moving forward with key officials in government. Hopefully, we can come up with something that will finally settle the issue once and for all,” added Eala.
Eala also revealed in the public sports program backed by the PSC, San Miguel, Milo, Pagcor and Amelie Hotel that he had a fruitful dinner last Monday night with the members of the POC executive board led by POC President and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who hosted the affair.
Eala, the PSC’s 11th chairman, said that in coordination with the POC, he is looking forward to sitting down for a dialog with national athletes and coaches.
“Talking to the athletes is part of my priority. I am requesting through the POC that we will have a general assembly with them,” Eala said, adding that taking care of their needs was one of his marching orders from President Marcos Jr.
“One of the President’s instructions to me was to take care of the athletes and provide them as much as we can. Alagaan natin ang mga atleta, whom he mentioned in his speech during National Heroes Day (last Aug. 29),” he said.
