PDBF MUST BE REINSTATED AS AN NSA

In 2011, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) under Richie Garcia issued a board resolution that put dragon boat under canoeing and PCKF. The board resolution is shown below.

 What is very interesting about the PSC resolution is that the placement of dragon boat under canoeing and PCKF was based on the recommendation of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC. Clearly, this is a violation of sports autonomy as guaranteed by the IOC Constitution. It is interesting too that the resolution does not mention about an "IOC directive" that POC President Cojuangco cited as the reason for the placement of PDBF under PCKF. PSC could not mention the "IOC directive" in the resolution  because no such directive was ever issued by IOC. Instead, PSC used the word "recommendation".

But there are two points about the resolution that defy logic. One, PDBF was already setting world records and winning world championships one after the other. Why then did POC and PSC make an effort to place PDBF under a non-performing national federation such as PCKF? Up until 2011, PCKF has not won a single medal nor trophy in international competitions. So why place a well-performing PDBF under an inutile PCKF?

Two, the US Dragon Boat Federation is not under canoeing nor ICF. It is under IDBF just like PDBF. Thus, it is not true that dragon boat must be under canoeing and ICF to be considered a national federation for dragon boat.

Since it was PSC that finalized the displacement of PDBF, it is only proper that the new PSC administration fix the injustice done to PDBF by its predecessor. PDBF has given the country much honor and pride in top international tournaments like the World Cup and World Championships. It is only right that it is reinstated as a national federation.