Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Saturday, August 8, called on the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to give financial assistance to athletes and coaches who require help during the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Go, chairman of the Senate sports committee, said he has been hearing of complaints from athletes and coaches that they have yet to receive from PSC their allowances covering the months of June and July.
“Tinatawagan ko ng pansin ang pamunuan ng PSC kung maaaring tingnan ang reklamong ito. Ayusin ang dapat ayusin at ibigay ang dapat ibigay (We are calling on the PSC leadership to look into these complaints. Solve what is to be solved, give what is to be given),” he said.
“We are in the middle of a pandemic and everyone is having difficulty. Our athletes and coaches who bring honor to our country are no exception,’’ Go pointed out.
He said he is cognizant of the fact that PSC is also running short of funds as a result of the reduced remittances from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
While this led to the reduction in the allowance of coaches and athletes, still PSC should not delay its remittances of the allowances of athletes and coaches, he said.
Alam kong kaya ninyong matugunan kaagad ito. Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Sports, magtulungan tayo para sa kapakanan ng ating mga atletang nangangailangan ngayon. (I know you can resolve this problem. As chairman of the Senate committee on sports, we should help each other to help the athletes and coaches),” he said.