The Philippine Sports Commission is withdrawing its support to the 10th ASEAN Paragames.
Agency officials said this after they decided to implement belt-tightening actions in their effort to keep its commitment of support to members of the national team, in compliance with a government advisory to cancel the staging of sports activities for the next seven months.
The agency’s top officials arrived at this decision during a virtual board meeting Wednesday.
The decision came after the agency received directives from the Department of Budget Management on projects that will be discontinued under National Budget Circular 580.
The Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases also gave an advisory on prohibited activities even beyond the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
Because of this, the PSC will comply with the advisory that all sports activities are cancelled until December of this year.
This ASEAN Paragames has already been postponed twice this year, first because of budget constraints, and second, because of the ongoing measures being done by the government to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite its withdrawal of support, the agency will still honor its previous commitments with the organizing committee to cover initial operations’ expenses.
“We heed the call of the national government to cut expenses as we re-route majority of our resources to fighting the pandemic, but we also stand by our commitment to keep supporting members of the national team,” said Ramirez.
Also in the meeting were commissioners Celia Kiram, Ramon Fernandez, Arnold Agustin and Charles Maxey, along with Executive Director Merly Ibay, Deputy Executive Directors Dennis Rivera and Atty. Guillermo Iroy, as well as Chief of Staff Marc Velasco.
Ramirez said they will continue to support the allowance releases for national athletes and coaches, with the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. coming out with steady remittances to the agency.
“The present enhanced community quarantine may have affected PAGCOR’s income, and will have an effect on its remittances to PSC,” added Ramirez.
“We continue to study projections and proposals and the board is ready to take necessary actions should they be needed,” said Ramirez.
So far, the PAGCOR has remitted P150.75 million to the PSC since March 31.
