PSC’s bid to account unliquidated funds gets positive results

TOO TALL. The towering Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez (right) and fellow Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey pose with Cebuana Olympian Mary Joy Tabal in PSC’s consultative meeting with mayors and governors from the Visayas last Tuesday at the Crown Regency Hotel. (CDN PHOTO/CALVIN D. CORDOVA)

The Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) aggressive campaign to account unliquidated funds that it released to the national sports associations (NSAs) is yielding positive results.

NSAs were given until today to settle unliquidated funds. PSC has threatened to take legal actions against the leaders of NSAs with unliquidated funds.

“I think there were some productive and positive effects when we assumed office. There were P288 million funds. I talked to the head of finance two weeks ago, we only have P100-P250 unliquidated funds,” said PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez in a press briefing last Tuesday night at the Hotel Fortuna.

Ramirez explained that it is important that funds are all accounted for as “millions of money should be given to deserving associations, coaches and athletes.”

“For the past 27 years, the PSC has been very liberal and tolerant about these things. We don’t want to be remiss in our job. We are bound by law to really write them to comply liquidation,” said Ramirez said.

Ramirez said they are pressuring NSA to liquidate funds so the PSC can continue to provide the needed financial assistance.

“Our point that we want them to settle their account is that we want to continue helping them. By not liquidating, we cannot help them. Because we are also pressured by COA (Commission on Audit) and our accountants. Kami nga mga commissioners, when we cash advance, within 30 days, liquidate agad. The law is the law. Mahirap naman kami ang mananagot sa hindi pag-liquidate nila. Walang personalan dito,” said Ramirez.

Restoring order in Philippine sports is one of Ramirez’s goals in his second tour of duty as PSC chairman.

“It’s about time for NSA to reform and it’s time for the PSC leadership to say that this is the clear path. Because if we don’t instill discipline now, nothing will happen,” he said.

Ramirez said he is fortunate that he is in a “friendly administration” unlike in his previous stint as PSC chairman in 2005.

“When I was the chairman in 2005, I was nobody there. I didn’t have friends. It was more of balancing. There was even no money for us to sustain but we survived. But now, there’s this opportunity where the president is my friend. But it’s double blade: if I don’t perform, I don’t have business staying here,” said Ramirez.