PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez was elated with the dominating win of the Philippine karatedo team in the 15th SBY Cup International Indonesian Karate Open tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, last week.
The Philippine team which is now under the management of the Philippine Olympic Committee and PSC bagged a total of 12 gold medals along with two silvers and one bronze medal.
POC and PSC have taken over the national team after the World Karatedo Federation stripped its recognition of the Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) due to allegations of misusing government funds by its secretary general Raymund Lee Reyes during their training camp in Europe before the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Some of the gilts came from Nicole Erika Dantes who had two by dominating the junior women’s kata (form) individual and topping the juniors kumite (sparring). She added a silver in the team kumite by pairing up with Mean Jenelle Yabut-Montalvo.
Another gold medal was contributed by Cebuano karateka James Delos Santos who ruled the junior men’s individual kata while Ricca Yuzon Torres and Joco Vasquez topped the women’s and men’s individual kata.
Fernandez said that when the PKF handled the national team, there were a lot of discrepancies in the distribution of the athletes’ monetary allowances especially during their training in Europe prior to the 2017 SEA Games.
To make sure that the athletes will be well compensated, Fernandez said that he sent a disbursing officer from the PSC with the team to Jakarta to manage their expenses as well as the allowances, hotel accommodations and airfare.
“Because of PSC’s support, we were able to inspire the athletes to perform their best,” Fernandez said in a phone interview with Cebu Daily News.
Fernandez is in Tagum, Davao del Norte, to oversee the inaugural Indigenous People Games organized by the PSC.
He added that the disbursing officer reported that the entire team was very glad of the tremendous support given to them by the PSC especially that they received their full allowance amounting to $60 per day.
“The report from our disbursing officer saying that it was the first time that the national team received full allowances says it all. I cannot disclose the funds that we extended for the national team because it differs from tournament to tournament that they join abroad,” added Fernandez.
“Definitely we will continue to support the athletes not just in karatedo but other sports and from now on we will be sending also our disbursing officer from PSC to manage the funds that we will provide to the teams competing abroad.”
Fernandez said that this will be the case from now on as PSC will strictly implement its rule of liquidating up to the last centavo the expenses that will be used during the duration of the tournament or training abroad.
“It is a hundred percent strict rule that is already implemented by PSC. All unliquidated cash assistance amounting to a hundred thousand pesos and above are subject for investigation and the NSA (National Sports Association) that will not be able to liquidate will be suspended from receiving assistance from PSC,” said Fernandez.