PSC procures medical equipment worth P100M

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines  – Modern and high-end medical equipment worth P100 million will soon be made available for all the athletes in the national pool.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez yesterday said procurement of the equipment from the United States and Europe has begun.

National training director Mark Velasco is the one handling the procurement.

“These are high-performance equipment being used by American and Australian athletes,” said Ramirez during the third and last day of the PSC Sports Caravan that has had stops in Cebu, Davao, Naga and Batangas.

The medical equipment, which are used for kinesiology and chemodynamic procedures, are the same ones that are only available  in hospitals like St. Luke’s Medical Center.

“Our athletes will no longer have to visit the hospital to avail themselves of these equipment. Soon, the PSC will have its own,” said Ramirez.

Once they arrive, the equipment will be put in place at the Philsports Arena, which will have its own sports science building.

Ramirez said the older equipment at Ultra will be pulled out and used in the regional training centers which the PSC will soon construct.

“I hope the NSAs (national sports associations) will appreciate this,” said Ramirez.

The PSC is splurging on the needs of the national athletes, including plans to provide them and the coaches hefty increases in their monthly allowances and salaries as long as they deliver the medals.

“I told the coaches I can double their salaries if they produce the medals,” said Ramirez.

The PSC is also looking at upgrading the training facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Philsports and the Teachers Camp here, not including the plan to construct a separate training center in Clark, Pampanga.

“We are making sure the money we have is spent the right way,” said Ramirez.