Pacman: Training center a must

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Manny Pacquiao yesterday called on the country’s top sports leaders to put their act together and make sure that the construction of a modern training center to cater to the national athletes becomes a reality.

The training center, which may cost over P2 billion and aimed at replacing the existing ones, which are too old, has been in the drawing board the past few years, but has never come to form.

“I’m hoping na maumpisahan na yan (that things get started),” said Pacquiao, who as chairman of the Senate committee on sports presided over yesterday’s hearing.

“Work on it. We should see the result in three to six years. We need the partnership between the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee. You must coordinate,” said Pacquiao, a neophyte senator who has a big heart for the national athletes.

Pacquiao told those who attended the hearing, including PSC chairman William Ramirez and POC president Jose Cojuangco, to work hand in hand for the benefit of the athletes.

“Because if you don’t, the athletes will suffer,” said Pacquiao, who also rued the perceived presence of the “palakasan system” or favoritism regarding the selection of athletes who make it to the national pool.

“Ang problema padrino system. May mga atleta na hindi napagbibigyan (The problem is patronage system with deserving athletes not being chosen),” said Pacquiao, who counts himself as a victim of such practice. He said it was his dream to fight for the country then but couldn’t find his way in to the national pool.

“May politics,” he said then.

Also present during the hearing, the second this month, were PSC commissioners Ramon Fernandez and Celia Kiram, POC board member Cynthia Carrion, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines executive director Ed Picson, Games and Amusement Board chairman Baham Mitra, Pagcor assistant vice president for community relation and services Arnel Ignacio and accounting head Sharon Quintanilla.

Pacquiao also touched the sensitive issue surrounding Pagcor’s monthly remittance to the PSC, which is stated under Republic Act 6847, the law that created the PSC in 1990.

The law states that Pagcor, a cash-rich government-owned-and-controlled-corporation, must remit to the PSC five percent of its monthly gross revenue. But since 1993, the PSC has been getting only half of what is stated under the law.

The PSC chairman said based on their computation, Pagcor has misses remitting to the PSC nearly P20 billion in its revenues.

Failure to win the gold in major international competitions, especially the Olympics, has always been blamed at the lack of funds. Sports leaders said once Pagcor starts remitting the whole five percent to the PSC, lack of budget can no longer be used as an excuse.

Pacquiao said he will work on the reinstatement of the five percent remittance from Pacgcor even if it means he has to knock on the doors of Malacañang.

“Under the law, five percent of (Pagcor’s) gross earnings should go to the PSC. I will help. I will talk to the President (Duterte) to set up a meeting. If we get the five percent, are we going to win the gold in the Olympics?” Pacquiao asked.