New PSC seeks end to red tape

MANILA, Philippines - If there’s any, the Philippine Sports Commission must do away with red tape, according to Dr. Fatima Celia Kiram, one of four newly appointed commissioners in the government sports agency.

“Dapat mawala (It must go),” said Kiram, who vowed to push for reforms, big or small, in the PSC.

As president of the Philippine Pencak Silat Association, Kiram said she knows about difficulty dealing with the agency when it comes to disbursement of financial assistance.

“Minsan bukas na ang competition hindi pa ma-release ang tseke (Sometimes, a competition starts tomorrow and the check has yet to be released),” she told reporters.

To make things happen, heads of the different National Sports Associations (NSAs) end up digging into their own pockets or acquiring fast-cash loans.

“Ang ibang NSA, nang-uutang na lang sa 5-6,” Kiram, widow of the former Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III, said in a press conference.

“This I want to fix and clean up,” said the only female member of the new PSC board that was created by President Duterte.

Kiram said the PSC must avoid delaying the release of assistance to the NSAs or any athlete.

“Sometimes the delay happens because the person who needs to sign the check is not in the office,” said Kiram.

She also rued the perceived bias among NSAs.

“There should be no bias whether it’s an Olympic sports or grassroots sports,” said Kiram, citing that pencak silat, a non-Olympic sport, is also being played in the SEA Games or Asian Games.

“Dapat mawala ang bias,” said Kiram, who will be joined in the board by fellow commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Arnold Agustin and Charles Maxey.

Kiram said she will soon step down as president of pencak silat.

“I am inspired by this (PSC) position so please give me a chance to see what we can do to bring our children, our youth into sports,” she said.

“We must develop individuals into better persons. Even the poor. Give them the chance to get into sports or finish their studies. Let’s develop our youth,” Kiram said.

“Once our children get into sports, the problem with drugs will go away. And it’s a multiplying effect. This is the legacy we can leave here,” she added.