Unsettled PSC funds stymie Asiad buildup

National sports associations (NSAs) with unliquidated cash advances with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) are finding it difficult to secure assistance from the government agency as they prepare for the 18th Asian Games in August.

Commissioner Charles Maxey said the PSC board had no choice but to deny certain requests from some NSAs because of liquidation problems.

“Madami kami na-deny (We denied a lot),” said Maxey.

“Even those for the Asian Games preparations. It’s due to their unliquidated financial assistance,” he said without naming the NSAs.

Maxey said problems with unliquidated FAs (financial assistance) continue to hound the PSC and the NSAs. The amount, which had gone as high as P300 million, is down to more or less P100 million.

“It’s clear under the law (Republic Act 6847) that we cannot continue providing financial assistance to NSAs that are unliquidated,” said Maxey.

He said the PSC continues to receive “love letters” from the Commission on Audit (COA), reminding them of their responsibility.

“It clearly says, ‘No liquidation, no funding,’” the PSC commissioner, a former sportswriter from Davao City, said.

“We just cannot continue funding because the COA will go after us. Kami ang hahabulin ng COA,” he added.

The Asian Games is over three months away, and the NSAs who will field entries in Indonesia are in the thick of preparations.

The three-month period prior to the Games is critical for the NSAs, who have to send their athletes to international training or actual competitions heading to the Asiad.