PHILIPPINE SPORTS Commission chairman Eric Buhain said he has done everything to explain the PSC’s side regarding funding projects of national sports associations but felt sad that despite his efforts, a protest letter had been sent to Malacanang by Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit.
Dayrit said yesterday that the letter, signed by 13 presidents and officials of various NSAs, was forwarded to President Arroyo last Friday, a day after a group of disgruntled sports leaders met to express its anger over what it said was mismamangement of PSC funds.
"Siyempre nakakalungkot. Nagulat talaga ako sa balita," Buhain told The Bulletin yesterday. "Kami kasi sa PSC naman ay very sincere when we met the NSAs last Monday.
"I hope Mr. Dayrit finds peace," Buhain added.
Buhain had called sports leaders to a breakfast meeting last Monday during which he heard the various complaints of the officials.
One after the other, the NSA officials sought clarification over how much fund was disbursed and how much money the PSC got from various sources including donations from private sources.
"We wanted transparency in PSC funding and we wanted to know why only a few NSAs were getting a big slice of PSC funds," said Dayrit who also suggested that the PSC cancel some of their so-called grassroots program and channel more funds to athletes preparing for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games which the Philippines is hosting.
Buhain and the officials appeared to have found common ground and shook hands after the two-and-a-half hour dialogue at the Sheraton Hotel. Buhain also thought he was able to reach out to the NSAs as he showed them the disbursements to sports associations over the years.
But Dayrit’s camp said it had planned to bring the document to President Arroyo even before Buhain decided to call a meeting.
They also said it still remains to be seen whether the PSC will make good on its promise to ease the financial woes plaguing the NSAs.
Although the petition gathered only 13 signatures out of 42 NSAs under the POC umbrella, Dayrit said "even if there’s only one NSA, the PSC will have to address it."
"It’s not a matter of numbers," he said.
Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the country, had urged the PSC and POC on Monday to agree on a ceasefire for the sake of Philippine sports.
He also called on more transparency and more dialogue among officials.
