PSC transparent in its operations

In keeping with President Duterte’s thrust of transparency in the government, the Philippine Sports Commission will open its board meetings and procurement procedures to observers.

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said they will be inviting a PSC employee and a member of the media to sit in as they discuss board matters, including the approval of requests. Similarly, he said a representative from the workforce and the press will be asked to see the procurement process.

“We’ll be doing this in compliance with the President’s order of transparency,” Ramirez told reporters after officially assuming the PSC helm Monday.

“First time ito mangyayari (This will be a first) and who knows, maayos ang takbo ng PSC mawawala

na ang storya na merong corruption, merong kinasuhan (this will enable the PSC to run smoothly and prevent incidents of corruption),” he added.

Ramirez and commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Charles Maxey, Celia Kiram, and Arnold Agustin said their main aim is to strengthen the grassroots, particularly in the provinces, and revive the Philippine Sports Institute, to boost elite sports in the long run.

They plan to involve the private sector in this endeavor.

“Malaking trabaho ito (It’s big task for us). After a quick data-gathering in July, we will sit down in August to chart that. When we chart that one, we’ll be able to discuss the vision, mission, and budget, which we’ll sell to corporate (entities) so we can use government money for other equally important things,” Ramirez, who is on his second stint as head of the government sports agency said.