Search on for PSC chair

It’s a little too early to speculate on who would come in and take over as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission once incumbent head Richie Garcia steps down by the end of June.

Several names have come up as possible replacement. Lobbying and jockeying for the high-profile position have begun even before Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is proclaimed the new President.

The terms of the PSC chairman and his four commissioners are co-terminus with the President’s. When President Aquino yields his office on June 30, the current PSC board steps down.

The new President then names his appointees to the government sports agency.

An incumbent commissioner is said to be eyeing the top post while a former PSC chairman, while highly considered for the job, has ruled out a return to his old post.

Duterte has said in a previous interview that he would consider putting up a Department of Sports to take the place of the PSC which was created in 1990.

Once elevated to department level, the PSC head will carry a Cabinet rank, and will have direct access to Malacañang.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco, who threw a last-minute support to Duterte for the May 9 elections, is hoping for the best.

Cojuangco said once Duterte looks at the list of applicants for the PSC chairman and the four commissioners, those with the love for sports should catch his attention.

“Right now it’s all speculations,” said the POC chief.

“But if a newcomer comes in, someone who’s not really involved in sports, ‘yun ang mahirap (then that’s tough),” said Cojuangco, POC president since 2004.

Cojuangco is out to keep the POC presidency, and has announced his intention to run in the next POC elections in November.