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PSC also keen on establishing training center for athletes

03/16/2009

Are the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) racing against each other?

PSC chairman Harry Angping is said to be keen on making the decades-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) a world-class training center for the athletes.

In fact, Angping has started to invite bids for the renovation of several facilities inside the historic RMSC.

He even came out with paid advertisements in national dailies to encourage interested contractors to bid for the refurbishment of the swimming pool and track oval.

“We just want to make sure that the renovations of these facilities will be awarded to deserving contractors,” Angping said.

Renovating the RMSC has been the pet project of the former Manila congressman since assuming the PSC chairmanship two months ago.

And to pave the way for its construction, he slashed the PSC workforce to nearly half and evicted beer joints operating at the nearby Adriatico Street, replacing them with wholesome establishments to generate more revenues.

“Business is bad and times are difficult, we should save money as much as we can,” Angping said. “This is actually more practical than putting up a brand-new sports complex.”

The idea of establishing a new complex was floated by the Olympic movement last week with POC president Jose “Peping” pledging 50 hectares from his family’s vast estate at the Hacienda Luisita in San Miguel, Tarlac.

Cojuangco, a five-time Tarlac representative whose family is into sugar plantation, has formally brought its proposals to the Olympic Council of Asia, which earlier vowed to finance it through a grant from the International Olympic Committee.

Cojuangco is looking to raise at least P500 million from private donors to turn the ambitious project into reality.

But Angping seriously doubts if the idea would fly.

“It will be very costly,” Angping said. “I doubt if the POC could raise that amount amid the ongoing crisis.” Julius Manicad