Aranas to the voters of the POC: We offer alternatives, solutions

Transparency and accountability serve as the electoral rallying cry for Clint Aranas and his party when the archery chief runs for president of the Philippine Olympic Committee on November 27.

Aranas will face the incumbent president and the cyclist Bambol Tolentino for the highest position, with his agenda focused on strengthening the highest governing body of the country as an ambassador to the local and international sports communities.

“The mission is very doable,” Aranas told the Philippine Sports Writers Association virtual forum.

“We don’t want the POC to be providing the big picture.”

Part of its platform is to make national sports associations self-sufficient and self-sufficient by grouping them into groups to obtain private sponsorships.

“In this way, corporate companies can sponsor a cluster and everyone will get the financial help,” Aranas said.

If he wins the spot, Aranas said he plans to spend the first 100 days strategizing for different NSAs as 2021 is expected to be a busy year for sports due to various competitions spread across the calendar such as the Olympic qualifiers, the Olympics. Tokyo and 31.^{S t} Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.

When asked if he thinks the election would be a numbers game, Aranas trusts his fellow voters.

“We don’t sell hard. We offer an alternative. So it is up to the officials what they really want. If you want this to continue or if you want some solutions, then you decide, ”he said.

Earlier last month, Aranas was one of the POC members who lobbied the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee for immediate submission of PHISGOC’s audited financial statements on the expenses of organizing the 30^th SEA Games last December.

Part of Aranas’ campaign ticket are handball president Steve Hontiveros (president), athletic chief Philip Juico (first vice president), rugby general secretary Ada Milby (second vice president), wushu general secretary Julian Camacho (treasurer ), weightlifting president Monico Puentevella (auditor).

His running partners for the board members are Charlie Ho from netball, Robert Mananquil from billiards and snooker, Robert Bachmann from the squad, Jeff Tamayo from soft tennis, and foster member Pearl Managuelod from muay.

Managuelod also appears on Tolentino’s team.

Meanwhile, Tolentino is running for a full four-year term after serving the remainder of the term of former POC chief Ricky Vargas.

Among his running partners are Tom Carrasco (president) of triathlon, basketball chief Al Panlilio (first vice president) and Ormoc city mayor Richard Gomez, of fencing and modern pentathlon (second vice president), Cynthia Carrion ( treasurer) of gymnastics and Chito Loyzaga of baseball. (auditor).

For the board members are Raul Canlas from the surfer, Dave Carter from judo and Butch Pichay from chess.

Fifty-one NSA, two representatives from the Athletes Commission and the member of the executive board of the International Olympic Committee Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski form the electorate.