The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is funding the participation of EJ Obiena in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
The development came after the PSC Board meeting Tuesday where they decided to fund all athletes endorsed by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
This included Obiena, who was one of the 82 endorsed by the POC, after the world No. 5 and Asian record holder did not get endorsement from the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa).
Traditionally, the PSC funds athletes who are only recommended by their national sports associations, but the agency decided to make an exception this time.
With this, the country stands a good chance of getting a gold medal in pole vault since Obiena is the defending champion with his Games-record feat of 5.45 meters – far better than his current season-best of 5.91m in an indoor tournament in Rouen, France a week ago.
His Asian record is 5.93m.