TO resolve liquidation issues with national sports associations, requests for financial assistance will be granted and channeled directly to national athletes who need it.
To make this happen, a liaison officer will be assigned and put in charge for such an activity.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said this following a board meeting last week after the government sports agency suspended financial assistance to the Philippine Karatedo Federation.
“Previously, ginagawa na namin iyan. Iyung may mga unliquidated at may intra-NSA disputes pa,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez said they have a new policy which allows the agency to maintain good relations with NSAs even if they have liquidation issues.
The PSC chief said the go-to guy that they will assign will handle the travel expenses of athletes when they go abroad to train and go into competition.
“Para wala nang problema sa liquidation, magkakaroon ng isang tao para dito. He will take care of the hotels, the expenses. We will give money directly to the athletes,” said Ramirez.
The new policy was created after karate athletes alleged that they did not fully receive their allowances during their 20-day training stint in Germany last July.
Officials of the Philippine Karatedo Federation reportedly made them sign for only $400 of the allotted $1,800 for each of the 14 members of the national squad.
A probe into the allegations by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation started last Thursday.
Agent are now interrogating athletes, coaches and PKF officials to find out what happened to funds amounting to P3.217 million.
The money was supposed to be spent for the seminars and tournaments joined, accommodations, meals and allowances of the team, while it was in Germany from July 20 to Aug. 9.
While the probe is going on, executive director Sanna Privaldo will lead a five-man task force that will also look into the case and cooperate with investigators of the NBI.
PKF officials and coaches are now banned from the athletes’ dormitories and restricted from interacting with karatedo athletes, who have filed their complaints.
PKF secretary general Raymund Lee-Reyes, who also went to Germany, has filed his leave of absence, according to PKF president Joey Romasanta.