Budget for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games amounting to P7.5-billion will be transferred from the coffers of the Department of Foreign Affairs and in to the hands of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Current Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. has informed the Philippine Sports Commission of this move after the Senate questioned the DFA’s 27.4-billion proposed budget for 2019.
Sports officials in the government sports agency are now awaiting the fund's release in the coming days since the Philippines will host the Southeast Asian Games from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10 next year.
Most of the games will be held in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, Subic, Bulacan and in Metro Manila.
The funding for the SEA Games went under scrutiny during a plenary deliberation.
The SEA Games budget was put in DFA custody during the time of Alan Peter Cayetano as secretary.
Cayetano, who is no longer Foreign Affairs Secretary, is now Chairman of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee.
Locsin sent the Senate a letter advising the chamber to remove the P7.5 billion from DFA and transfer it to the appropriate agency.
Preparations for the Games are expected pick up in the coming days with this development.
