Alan Cayetano seeks PSC charter change for better funding

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday sought for the amendment of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) charter to allow the government to annually provide its budget and invest more in Philippine sports.

The lawmaker manifested this during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Sports, saying that transforming the PSC into a department would pave the way for its direct funding.

“I-amend na lang natin [ang Charter ng PSC] para diretso ang transfer ng pera (Let's just amend the PSC Charter so that the transfer of money is direct). If PSC was a department rather than a commission, it would have a regular budget every year,” Cayetano said.

He pointed out that the government has to be consistent in spending on sports facilities and athletes, and not only when the country hosts international games.

“We cannot wait for us to host another SEA Games, another Asian Games para gumastos [para as Philippine sports]. It would be a privilege to host the Basketball World Games next year. But kung maghohost lang ba tayo gagastos? Dapat tuloy-tuloy na ‘yan,” he added.

(We cannot wait for us to host another SEA Games or another Asian Games to spend for the Philippine sports. It would be a privilege to host the Basketball World Games next year. But do we just spend when we host such? It should be continuous.)

Cayetano expressed support for the proposal on the PSC charter amendment, which will be heard by the Senate Committee on Government Corporation and Public Enterprises which he chairs.

“File the bill, let’s hear it together and ask the House of Representatives to help us para ma-fastbreak na natin ito bago mag-December,” he said.

(File the bill, let's hear it together and ask the House of Representatives to help us so that we can fastbreak it before December.)

During the same hearing, Senator Sonny Angara said that the PSC budget has increased over the years as part of the government’s commitment to support the development of its athletes and programs.

He also said that the Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, which he authored, also contributed to the development of Philippine sports by granting significant cash incentives to winning athletes and their coaches.

Angara also shared how he believes Philippine sports is “having a moment” now with its recent achievements, citing the victory of Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala at the US Open junior tournament, and those of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and golfer Yuka Saso.

FIBA World Cup

As chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Angara also aired his optimism on the future of Philippine basketball.

He said the FIBA World Cup 2023 presents a rewarding opportunity for the Philippines and should thus be supported by all Filipinos, and be allocated with a big budget.

“Bigyan natin ng pag suporta ng pag host nito. Definitely, I think malaki ang pangangailangan for 2023. Hindi lang milyon o daang milyon ang pinaguusapan dito kundi bilyon,” he said.

“Pero pinakita sa akin ang balik sa Spain when it hosted World Cup in 2014 at nung 2019 sa China, parang ang balik ay hindi lang bilyon but tens of billions of dollars, in terms of tourism revenue, in terms of exposure,” he added.

(Let's give this hosting a support. Definitely, I think the budget needed for 2023 is big. We are not just talking about millions or hundreds of millions here, but billions. But I was shown what happened in Spain when it hosted the World Cup in 2014, and in 2019 in China. It seems that the return was not just billions, but tens of billions of dollars, in terms of tourism revenue, in terms of exposure.)

Angara furthered that the preparations for the event require a “whole of government, whole of society, whole of country approach.”

As the Philippines will serve as among the hosts of the FIBA World Cup, the lawmaker said the PBA has also vowed to hold off its games for four months leading to the August 2023 games.

He also said both the collegiate and professional basketball leagues have committed to support Gilas Pilipinas in its preparations for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

—JMB, GMA News