IN the event he wins the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee on Nov. 27, archery chief Atty. Clint Aranas aims to hit the ground running in his first 100 days by strengthening the POC membership and overhauling the local Olympic body so it can better serve its stakeholders.
During the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum yesterday, Aranas also pressed the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee to submit to the POC its overdue report, including the audited financial statements, on the 30th SEA Games.
“If we ever win, the first 100 days will be about planning, strategizing and talking about the plans and programs of the NSAs,” Aranas said in the public sports program supported by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp, San Miguel Corp., Smart, Go for Gold, Amelie Hotel, Brasca Restaurant and Milo.
“We will make a presentation together with the NSAs and tell the corporate sponsors that the sponsorship will go directly to the NSA for transparency,” he said. “On the accountability level, I will make sure the money goes to their plans and programs for the next four years so that everything is clear and clean.”
The former Government Surety and Insurance System president and chief operating officer added that he would also introduce some amendments to the POC’s constitution and by-laws so that it can be a more efficient and effective organization.
He said among these is the removal of the POC chairman and immediate past POC president as members of the Executive Board as well as making the member of the POC Athletes Commission a voting board member.
“Our POC constitution states that our board consists of 13 board members and not 14 so this would need an amendment requiring the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the International Olympic Committee,” he said.
Another change, he said, is the appointment of a POC secretary general as a “paid professional” but without any voting rights as a board member, unlike the present set-up where POC secretary general Atty. Ed Gastanes, who was appointed by POC president Bambol Tolentino, has a vote.
“This situation looks ugly because the appointed secretary general will cast his vote in favor of the decision of the POC president,” Aranas pointed out.
Another amendment he will push or is for the officials of National Sports Associations that are non-Olympic sports to be eligible to vote and be voted upon for any POC position, unlike the present charter where the position of POC president must come from an Olympic discipline.
