PHILIPPINE Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said the agency for sports will implement a more stringent policy in granting financial assistance to National Sports Associations, especially in competitions and training abroad.
The former national athlete himself before becoming known as the “El Presidente” in the Philippine Basketball Association said the PSC will send a representative to act as disbursing officer for NSAs joining international competitions.
The PSC representative will directly hand the allowances to the athletes and coaches.
The old practice allows the coaches or an NSA official to collect allowances from the PSC for distribution to the athletes.
“From now on, we will make sure that the budget will be received by the athletes themselves,” said Fernandez, who vowed that what happened with the Philippine Karatedo Federation will not be repeated.
Fernandez said NSAs with questionable liquidation reports may have their financial grant suspended.
Fernandez accompanied seven national karate athletes, who came into the open and aired their gripe against officials of the PKF before mediamen during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum last week.
The athletes, Engene Dagohoy, Mae Soriano, Rexor Tacay, John Paul Bejar, Jayson Macaalay, Miyuki Tacay and OJ Delos Santos, alleged that PKF secretary-general Raymund Lee Reyes that they were given only $470 out of the $1,800 allotted by PSC during their training in Europe last year.
They said it was not the first time that this has happened to them.
“Lagi lang po nila sinasabi na magtiis muna dahil kulang ang nabibigay ng PSC, so kami naman po tiis lang kami,” the athletes said.
Fernandez said the National Bureau of Investigation, which is conducting an inquiry into the matter, will come up with its initial findings.