The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) yesterday came out of a meeting with the Department of Health (DoH) relieved after the two parties ironed out the kinks surrounding a Executive Order that places the sports agency under the supervision of the department.

"We have resolved the matter," said commissioner Ambrosio de Luna yesterday. "There is going to be no direct supervision (by the DoH over the PSC)."

The PSC was alarmed by the directive from Malacañang that was signed in June 2005 that apparently gives the DoH to take over the affairs of the PSC. EO 441 gives the DoH oversight functions over the sports agency.

After yesterday’s meeting, De Luna said DoH’s work is limited to the "health and nutritional aspect of the athletes" not in policy-making as what had earlier been feared by PSC Chairman William Ramirez.

Now that things have been clarified, Ramirez said the ‘tie-up’ with the department "has even more pluses than minuses."

"Now, we will be able to raise our concerns through the DoH whenever there is a Cabinet meeting. Magkakaroon kami ng katulong sa Cabinet meeting," said Ramirez, who has vowed to work closely with a working committee that DoH Secretary Francisco Duque will soon form.

"It’s more of a help on our part," added Ramirez.

What alarmed the PSC was a draft sent by the DoH to the PSC informing it that it has formed a committee that will work in tandem with sports officials with power to overrule policies initiated by the PSC. —Nick GIONGCO