Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco on Thursday urged Malacañang to fast track the appointment of a new Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman as time is running out on the country’s preparations for two coming major international events, including the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this November.

Cojuangco made the appeal a day after news leaked out about the impending assumption of former national golfer Richie Garcia as the next head of the government sports funding agency.

The POC top honcho admitted that Garcia was the man he personally recommended to President Aquino to succeed former Manila congressman Harry Angping, stressing that the sportsman from Bacolod is the “most experienced” from the long list of nominees as far as running the affairs of the PSC is concerned.

Garcia twice served as commissioner of the sports body in the past, the most recent of which came under the chairmanship of William “Butch” Ramirez.

Cojuangco also admitted having a hand in the endorsement of former swimming champion Akiko Thomson, ex-basketball star Chito Loyzaga and veteran sports officials Salvador Andrada and Jolly Gomez as sports commissioners and athletes commission vice chairman Dina Bernardo as executive director.