Senate panel approves PSC, GAB budgets
THE Senate Finance subcommittee F headed by Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go approved on Monday the proposed budgets for 2020 of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).
Go said the plenary would now deliberate the proposed P320.7-million and P149.3-million budgets for PSC and GAB, respectively.
During the budget hearing, the senator expressed his full support for the two sports agencies, reiterating that sports development is one of his priorities in the Senate.
“As I have said time and again, sports has the unique capability of developing in our youth a sense of camaraderie and responsibility, while at the same time keeping them away from the evils of dangerous drugs and criminality,” Go said.
“From my all out support as part of the delegation for Gilas Pilipinas, finding ways to supplement the training of our Hidylin Diaz in the continuing search for that elusive Olympic gold, to advocating for the establishment of a National Academy of Sports for High School, my love for sports is fueled primarily by my love for our country and our countrymen,” he added.
Reviewing the budget presented by PSC Chairman William Ramirez, Go questioned the huge disparity between the PSC-proposed budget and that proposed by the Department of Budget and Management. “Napansinkonasa 2019, may capital outlay kayo.Pero walasa 2018 at 2020. Ano ang utilization ng capital outlay? Anoanggamitnito? (I noticed that you have a capital outlay in 2019. But there is none in 2018 and 2020. What is the utilization of the capital outlay? What is it for?),” the senator asked.
A PSC representative responded that the bulk of the capital outlay goes to the equipment for the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Meanwhile, Go also led the deliberations of the proposed 2020 budget for GAB.
“I have no objections in their proposed budget, but we just have to make sure that government funds are utilized properly and that they are accounted for up to the last centavo,” Go told GAB representatives led by Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra.
JAVIER JOE ISMAEL