Senate reso seeks to uncover why PHL dragon boat team failed to get govt support

Senator Pia Cayetano wants to know what are the criteria set by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commssion (PSC) in providing financial support to National Sports Associations (NSAs). Cayetano filed Senate Resolution 551 hoping to shed some light on the issue why the Philippine dragon boat team, which won five gold and two silver medals in the 10th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Tampa, Florida, failed to receive government recognition and support. "We want to find out how come our Philippine Dragon Boat Team, which is acknowledged as one of the best and one of the most feared in international competitions, is not recognized as national athletes and are being denied the support they deserve in their very own country," said Cayetano. Without recognition from the POC, which is the mother organization of all NSAs in the country, PDBF's athletes and coaches were not able to receive monthly allowances from the state-funded PSC. Cayetano said the PDBF was even forced to go under the umbrella of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation, a younger NSA specifically dedicated to canoe and kayak. She added the PDBF has been struggling to get support from the government since they failed to participate in the 16th Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China last year due to lack of funding. "Other national teams and national athletes have complained of similar problems- lack of recognition, and lack of funding - particularly by the very agencies tasked to support them," Cayetano said. "The resilient spirit and world-class skills of our Philippine Dragon Boat Team, as well as other sports associations facing the same struggle, deserve support and recognition," she added. - JVP, GMA News