Finally, Justice in Sports Development?
“Asa ang hustisya?”
Well, that’s the common question you’ll hear from aggrieved parties.
We’ve been hearing of complaints from athletes, sports leaders for many years and the root problem is all about the money.
Either the funding given by the government agency, such as the Philippine Sports Commission, to the sports association was not reported to the members or there was simply lack of transparency.
So, you started to hear complaints, and accusations are hurled that the president of the sports association allegedly pocketed the money, blah, blah, blah.
Luckily, we have sports leaders who worked hard to raise money for their organizations and rely little funding from the government.
But, you know, that “short” is a common word in the sports community. “Short mis funding bai”, “Short lagi bai, mao gamay ray pa premyo bai”. “Short”.
Philippine Sports Commission chairman William I. Ramirez and Department of Justice assistant secretary Margaret V. Castillo-Padilla, on behalf of DOJ secetary Menardo I. Guevarra, signed a MOA because the sports agency needs all the help for “guidance” and to promote “accountability and good governance” in the sports community.
I like this very much because this supports the anti-corruption campaign of the President, Mayor Digong.
I am also happy that Deputy Executive Director-Bureau on Coordinating Secretariat and Support Services, Atty.Guillermo B. Iroy Jr. was there to be part of the MOA agreement ceremony because Atty.Iroy, even before becoming a lawyer, has been an honest gentleman and is still is to this very day.
You see, we abhor corruption in sports and that is why if we have friends whom we see are about to be involved or involved already, we always tell them to STOP it and if the damage has been done, to RECTIFY it.
If only there is Transparency and Accountability in all sports associations in the country, we will have happy athletes, happy coaches, happy trainors, happy parents, happy grandparents and happy corporate sponsors.
With this MOA signing, we wish that all sports associations will put their funding expenses online for all members of the sports community to see.
Siyarog maka dungog pa tag istorya, nga si kuwan, si kuwan nang hilabot sa kwarta! Unya kita pay sultian, “Mos, ingna si ______, nga e liquidate na tong funding na receive nila beh.” Kitams?
Let this be a good start for transparency and accountability in the sports development community. (Moses Billacura)
