Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. wants incoming commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo to be tapped as officer-in-charge (OIC) while they wait for the appointment of the new members of the PSC board of commissioners.
In a conversation with Daily Tribune, Iroy admitted that there is a pressing need to have an appointed official run the day to day operations of the PSC, especially now that the national athletes will be starting their preparations for major international tournaments ahead.
Right now, Iroy is serving as the OIC for being the highest-ranking career official of the government sports agency following the end of term of previous PSC board headed by chairman William “Butch” Ramirez on 30 June.
The 74-year-old Coo, a bowling great, was appointed as commissioner few weeks later, but the rest of the members of the PSC board — including the chairperson — have yet to be named.
Iroy said if Coo will serve as OIC, all the operational and administrative functions of the PSC will definitely run smoothly while the athletes can continue their training in various government sports facilities like the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Philsports compound and Teachers Camp.
Iroy formalized his request through a letter last Friday addressed to Executive Secretary Atty. Vic Rodriguez.
“We wrote to Malacañang last Friday to request for the appointment of commissioner Bong Coo as officer-in-charge since she is the lone member of the PSC board of commissioners right now,” said Iroy, an old hand in the PSC.
“If she becomes the OIC, she will be handling the operational matters such as allowing athletes to train in our facilities. On the other hand, being the acting OIC, I will definitely assist her to make sure that all functions will run smoothly.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is thinking long and hard before appointing new members of the PSC board.
A reliable Tribune source said the new PSC officials will be named right after the State of the Nation Address of the President on 25 July, but so far, no appointments have been made.
Another insider said the appointments will be made around September.
Iroy said only the PSC board can make major decisions, including the granting of requests of national sports associations, in accordance to the Republic Act 6847 or the law that created the agency in 1990.
Without a functioning PSC board, all requests remain pending.
“Since we are governed by the board, we need a chairman and at least two commissioners to run the office. That’s how the PSC law was enacted,” Iroy said.
Coo will only begin her six-year term once she takes her oath of office together with her fellow members of the PSC board of commissioners.
“But for now, I hope they grant our request and tap commissioner Bong to serve as our OIC.”
