The biggest non-performer in Philippine sports

Counterpoint

The biggest non-performer in Philippine sports

By Alvin Capino

It’s not true that only members of the exclusive KKK-Kaklase, Kakampi, Kabarilan (classmates, political allies, shooting buddies)—are untouchable in the administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino II.

There is a handful of others who also apparently enjoy “protected status” in this administration and can get away with incompetence and non-performance.

One of the lucky ones who immediately comes to mind is the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission Richie Garcia, who easily qualifies for the dubious distinction of being the biggest Non-Performing Asset of Philippine sports.

People have been expecting Garcia to already resign out of delicadeza after the dismal performance of the Philippines in last year’s 26th South East Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia.

Before the games, Garcia had been bragging that the Philippines would get at least 70 gold medals and finish at least third. The games ended with the Philippines wining only 36 golds and placing a depressing sixth—the worst finish for the Philippines in the last 10 years.

The poor performance of the Philippines, where we shamefully finished behind Singapore which has a population of only 3.8 million, falls squarely on the shoulders of Garcia who has been useless in addressing the problems of squabbling in the various sports organizations, the lack of an effective sports development program, and of course, corruption.

The SEAG is the lowest of the international sports festivals, ranking lower than the Asian Games and the Olympics. If the Philippines can’t show much achievement in the SEAG, what can we expect in the Asian Games and the Olympics especially under the ineffective leadership of Garcia.

Next year will be another SEAG year and with Garcia at the helm of the commission, we would be facing another debacle—and perhaps an even worse finish than the Jakarta games.

Veteran sports leaders, athletes and fans are worried about our chances because of poor leadership in, no, make that incompetence of, the Philippines Sports Commission.

Even after the Jakarta disaster, Garcia is doing very little to prepare Philippine participation in the SEA Games that will take place in Myanmar next year, according to sports observers. His lackadaisical posture puzzles everyone especially when they remember President Noynoy Aquino’s order to Garcia to review our sports development program after our embarrassing showing in the Jakarta games.

Showing his disgust, President Aquino summoned Garcia and other PSC officials to Malacañang. He ordered Garcia to review the country’s sports program, identify priorities and to focus on 10 sports Filipino athletes have the best chances of winning in. He instructed Garcia to develop the criteria for the priority sports.

Garcia took his time carrying out the President’s orders. After several weeks, he submitted a program for the 10 priority sports and another one for secondary games that would receive government funding.

A number of outstanding athletes and presidents of National Sports Associations was not happy with Garcia’s list. They called for a review and threatened to demonstrate against the PSC chairman. Garcia, bowing to pressure, announced he was deferring implementation of the plan. He was probably hoping President Noynoy would forget his directive. This year with the government’s preoccupation with the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, amnesia could develop over the priority sports ordered by the President.

Garcia also had the nerve to blame the National Sports Association for our worst-ever finish in the 2011 Games . The NSA, by the way, is supervised by the Philippine Olympic Committee chaired by Rep. Peping Cojuangco. People are saying that Garcia is an ingrate because it was Cojuangco who recommended him as PSC chairman.

Apart from the Cojuangco connection, Garcia has very little to qualify him for his job. He is known to be a good amateur golfer but has few qualities to become the administrator of an important national sports office such as the PSC.

Garcia’s major flaw, according to sports watchers, is that he has a poor grasp of the problems, potential and vision of Philippine sports. He has a narrow perception of the dynamics of national athletics, its role in our development and importance in character-building of the youth. He does not have the leadership and the vision to provide direction to Philippine sports.

By his record, performance and promise, Chairman Garcia is doing President Aquino great disservice, failing Philippine sports, hurting youth development and pulling down Philippine prestige in regional sports. For the good of the country, he should step down from office. If not, he should be fired by the President.