TALENTED athletes from cities and municipalities within Metro Manila are struggling in their effort to get rubber shoes and other athletic gear from local government units.
The problem is being felt by LGUs in Metro Manila, now that the 2017 Palarong Pambansa is just around the corner.
Strict auditing rules from the Commission on Audit are contributing to the red tape that gets in the way of procuring quality sports equipment for athletes.
Former varsity player Bing Victoria, who now handles the sports development program of the city of Taguig, voiced this concern to the Philippine Sports Commission during yesterday’s Metro Manila Sports Caravan.
“Bawal ang sapatos sa mga purchases under COA rules. Baka puedeng pakiusapan ang COA. Kasi, maraming batang magagaling. Karamihan, out of school youth,” said Victoria during the talks held at the Shangrila Makati.
Victoria, who played for the University of the Philippines Maroons in college, said the city had plans to support track and field athletes with spiked shoes in the coming Palarong Pambansa.
But they had difficulty with this since there are not many sponsors they can approach. Stringent rules implemented by the COA has become a hindrance.
For now, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano is helping resolve such issues by helping athletes buy their shoes using her own personal funds, according to Victoria.
PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said the government sports agency will seek an audience with officials of the COA regarding this concern.
It was revealed during the discussion with sports development heads of different LGUs within Metro Manila that getting quality athletic equipment becomes a problem once a bidding process takes place.
The athletes can only get low quality equipment according to other LGU respresentatives present. This is what happens when the lowest bid is accepted. The quality of athletic gear is not even considered.
Ramirez took note of this and said that “the COA can be held liable” for every child who gets into trouble for using poor quality shoes.
“Pwede managot ang COA sa gamit kapag may nangyari sa bata. Kasi, the root of this accounting process is to protect government money. That money not be stolen or corrupted, but used to promote social services and help Filipinos become good citizens,” said Ramirez.