RICHIE GARCIA

A joint committee made up of key officials from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) was formed on Monday aimed at attending to the needs of delegations to future international meets starting with the Asian Games this November.

After emerging from a two-hour meeting with PSC chairman Richie Garcia, Asian Games chief of mission Joey Romasanta said the PSC will be represented by commissioner Chito Loyzaga, chief accountant Merly Ibay and Boy Dinglasan.

The POC will be manned by Romasanta, who will be joined by three others.

“We don’t like this to be called a task force because what we like is for a permanent group that will handle the affairs and needs of Philippine delegations to other international meets, not only for this year’s Asian Games,” said Romasanta.

The formal turnover was held before the flag-raising with former PSC chair Harry Angping handing over the “baton” to Garcia.

Romasanta, who is also the POC spokesperson, had briefed Garcia about the status of the national athletes’ buildup for the November 12 to 27 Asian Games as well as the “logistical requirements and deadlines we have to meet.”

Since the final composition of the delegation will only be known by the second week of August, Romasanta said the PSC has yet to come up with a proposed budget.

“Chairman Garcia is still reviewing the finances and besides we would like to make it clear that we have to come up with the size of the delegation first before we can say how much is available,” said Romasanta.

Meanwhile, Romasanta said that eclipsing the four-gold medal output in the 2006 Doha Asian Games is not hard to match or even surpass.

“We have lots of opportunities to win in events that we did not take part in four years ago,” said Romasanta, enumerating chess and dancesport as potential producers of gold medals.

Boxing had two, while wushu and billiards came up with one each four years ago.