A fresh blow to the country's grassroots sports program, was the backing out of Antique from hosting the twice-postponed Visayas Qualifiers of the Philippine Olympic Festival scheduled Sept. 3-9.

This was disclosed yesterday by Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, who said that the Philippine Olympic Committee has broached the idea of staging the multi-event meet for Under-17 athletes in Bacolod.

But Puentevella, the POC first vice-president, said he did not commit on hosting the sports talent search project, saying he has yet to determine where to source out the funds of staging the event in Bacolod. "I am not sure if the event could draw crowds," he said.

Puentevella said that the continued political squabble between Antique Gov. Sally Perez and Rep. Exequiel Javier is the main reason why the province gave up the hosting responsibilities of the meet, which was earlier scheduled in January.

Her political fight with Javier also compelled Perez to move the POC Visayas Qualifiers in July. But, in an interview late last month, Perez asked for more time to prepare as the game venues, including the Binirayan Gym, are still being spruced up.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said the POC Board and the Philippine Sports Commission officials will sit down to tackle the final composition of the Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The POC proposal to cut down the budget for each athlete to P70,000 to enable the PSC to accommodate 700 athletes and officials for the biennial meet will be discussed.

As it stands, there are about 350 athletes, who have already met the criteria set by the SEA Games Task Force, PSC commissioner Richie Garcia said.

Meanwhile, Puentevella, a former PSC commissioner, also welcomed President Gloria Arroyo's P220 million budget proposal for the sports agency in 2008 when the country vies for its first-ever gold medal in the Beijing, Olympics.

"This is the best advanced Christmas gift for our victorious athletes," he said. "We are glad that after years of being treated unfairly in the House and in the Senate, it has taken the president herself to show us the way". Puentevella said he expects a renaissance in RP sports if the budget is approved. "This is a big shot in the arm". *CPT

back to top

Antique gives up POF hosting job
9-ball Open qualifiers scheduled
Golez rules Yulo golf tournament
GACPA bags title in PICPA bowlfest
Amonsot checks out of hospital