Attention, Mr. President

MORE than a thousand key government positions will be left vacant at the strike of midnight ushering in the New Year. 

Many of these are due to the courtesy resignations requisite of their appointment. 

For some in the government service, it’s merely customary and ceremonial. It was for most but not for many. 

It’s a voluntary resignation and in many cases ignored by the appointing power – the President of the Republic. Woe to those whose quit letters will be accepted as the employment relationship of the employee with the government ceases. 

The end of the year is spine-tingling for many government appointees. They hang by the edge of their seats, waiting for the axe to fall. 

It’s a government safeguard. On paper, it is to give the President “a chance to rid the bureaucracy of corruption” as it is often said. 

It has only been six months to President Bongbong Marcos’ six-year term, however, and still, quite many government positions remain vacant. Some key positions, like in the Department of Health which is led by an officer-in-charge, are still to be filled. 

I spent a good stretch of my career as a sportswriter and followed with interest the developments in the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). 

The PSC provides leadership, formulates policies, and sets priorities and direction for all amateur sports promotion and development, particularly emphasizing grassroots participation. It funds the training and participation of national athletes in international competitions. 

It should not be confused with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), which is a non-government organization composed of leaders of different sports organizations which are also NGOs. 

The GAB, meanwhile, is the government-run regulatory body in charge of professional sports in the Philippines. These include professional basketball, pro boxing, horse racing, billiards, and Esports, among others. 

While Mr. Marcos has appointed former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner as Chairman of the PSC, the agency remains short of three more commissioners as only World Bowling Hall of Fame and Philippine Sports Hall of Fame member Olivia “Bong” Coo has been appointed to backstop Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala. 

There’s also a good number of hopefuls for these slots. But sports seems to be at the back of the President’s priorities. 

The GAB, meanwhile, is still waiting for its new leader. This allows illegal activities in cockfighting and underground sports betting to flourish, denying the government the taxes that have not been delivered by the past GAB leaders. 

There’s a long line of “applicants” for the GAB chairman’s position, this rubbernecker was told. The majority of them lack the qualification. 

The GAB receives merely P150 million for its annual budget. But money flows from these illegal betting activities, including the “online sabong” which former President Rodrigo Duterte made legal only to stop at the tail end of his term. 

Pardon my word but balls are required of the next GAB chair. Experience should be a must. Knowledge of the different sports under it should be a factor before the President signs his or her appointment paper. 

The absence of one of these should make the person unqualified for the post.

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