THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has approved the release of P290,000 for long jumper Henry Dagmil’s two-month Olympic training in the United States.

According to executive director Fr. Vic Uy, he has already signed the check for Dagmil’s request for financial assistance. Uy assured the government sports agency is doing everything to provide the needs of the athletes, particularly those who are vying in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“There’s no need to worry, because the budget is already available,” said Uy, in an apparent response to Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association of the Philippines (Patafa) president Go Teng Kok’s statement the other day appealing for the immediate release of Dagmil’s training funds.

“I signed the check last week, and they can get it this Wednesday,” Uy added.

The PSC’s day-to-day operations chief also said the monthly stipend of two other Patafa athletes, Marestela Torres and Sheena Atilano, who are also training in the US, amounting to P40,000 each, are also ready for release.

Dagmil, Torres and Atilano are currently in California training under American coaches Dave Rose and Jerry Cablayan. The three are among those being considered for the two automatic slots for athletics in the Beijing Games this August, although the Patafa is hoping that Dagmil will make it through a qualifying grade to give the Philippines an extra slot.

Uy explained the delay on the release of the funds was because of the failure of Dagmil to liquidate the expenses he incurred during his previous training in the US.

“But we won’t allow that to hamper his training, that’s why we are releasing the funds for his training expenses, even if he has yet to complete the liquidation of the previous financial assistance the PSC extended to him,” Uy explained.

As part of their extensive preparation for the quadrennial meet, Dagmil, Torres and Atilano will participate in several competitions in the US.

Among the tournaments they will enter in are the Pitzer Invitational on April 5; the Azusa Pacific Invitational on April 18; the Mt. SAC Relays on April 20; the USCD Invitational April 25 and 26; the Steve Scott Invitational on May 3; the Oxy Invitational on May 10; the Adidas Track Classic on May 18; the Southern California High-performance Meet on May 26; and the Jim Bush California Championship on June 2.

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