CRUNCH HITS SPORTS, PALARO
'99 SCRAPPED
Manila, Nov. 24, 1998 -
Budgetary constraints have forced the Commission on Higher Education to
recommended the scrapping of the college-level Palarong Pambansa, a move
that the Philippine Sports Commission is protesting.
"I don't think that's the best solution to the problem," said sports commissioner Tisha Abundo yesterday when she learned that CHED will recommend to the Office of the President cancellation of the national meet for college students for the summer of 1999.
CHED decided to do away with the tertiary competition in the annual students games after the Department of Budget Management approved only P19 million for the program from the general appropriations of 1999.
"We cannot do it with such meager funds," said Perez who added that CHED originally projected a P46 million budget for the Palaro's tertiary level with infrastructure eating up most of the money when Iligan hosts the three-level (elementary, secondary and tertiary) meet.
The PSC is not happy with the decision and is proposing a solution.
"If there's a will, there's a way. Marami pang paraan para masagip natin ang Palaro para sa mga college students. Hindi dapat na itigil ang sports development ng mga bata, not while they're on their peak and have very good chances of being tapped for the national training pool."
Abundo suggested that CHED stage the tertiary Palaro not in Iligan but in Manila where it can tap the facilities, and even the personnel, of various colleges and universities.
"How about UP, Ateneo and even the nearby schools? They have sports facilities, hindi na kailangang magpagawa, and I believe thier respective people will help on voluntary basis."
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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