Manila, Philippines, August 26, 2022: The Philippine Sports Commission is seeking 546 million Peso (9.9 million USD) from the government to fund a busy sporting calendar in 2023.
The PSC, which is the sports agency of the government, has identified nine major events next year and forwarded the half-a-billion Peso budget to the Department of Budget and Management this week to fund five of them.
“We are hoping that the proposed budget will be approved by our country’s leaders. As a former athlete, the unwavering support of the government along with the full backing of the Filipino people are vital for our success,’’ said PSC commissioner and officer in charge Olivia “Bong’’ Coo.
Almost half of the suggested funding will be allocated for the PH delegation to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, next May. The country’s stint there will cost about P250 million (4.5 million USD).
The government hopes that the national athletes can surpass the fourth-place finish at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi three months ago.
The nation’s participation in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 next year has a P100-million (1.8 million USD) tacked to it. The Philippines is hoping to better its stint in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asiad in Indonesia, where the national athletes took home four gold, two silver and 15 bronze medals.
The other three major events identified by the PSC in 2023 are:
*4th World Combat Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (P72 million-1.3 million USD) in October;
*6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok-Chonburi, Thailand (P67 million-1.2 million USD) in November;
*2nd ANOC World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, with a proposed allotment of P56 million-1 million USD in August.
Funding for four other major events in 2023 is still being determined by the PSC.
Source: Inquirer