Details of the proposed budget of P7.5 billion for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games will be submitted to the Senate by the Philippine Sports Commission.
PSC chairman William Ramirez said this will be done as the government sports agency takes a more active role in the organization and preparations of the biennial games.
The Senate has asked the agency to provide them with details of how the budget will be spent for the Games.
With seven months to go, the budget for the Games has not yet been released, and executive director Merly Ibay has been asked to prepare documents, which have been provided earlier by the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee.
“This is subject to evaluation by the PSC. Requirements ito para maging maayos. When the money goes to the PSC, this becomes PSC’s responsibility and government accounting rules,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez, who is the vice chairman of the PHISGOC, said many things need to be done now that the date of the Games is drawing closer.
Equipment for events during the Games need to be procured.
He said the agency has received requests for equipment amounting to around P100-million after PSC made inquiries since November.
“I don’t know how fast (this will be). How can you proceed with the hosting,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez disclosed that the venues in New Clark City and in Subic need to be ready by August in order for the Games to run smoothly.
On the other hand, there are no problems with venues that are being readied in Metro Manila since most of them are just undergoing rehabilitation.
So far, Ramirez feels that preparations are going on as planned.
Late last year, current Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. sought the transfer of funds to the government sports agency after the Senate questioned the DFA’s P27.4-billion proposed budget for 2019.
The PHISGOC budget was included in the DFA’s budget when organizing committee chairman Allan Peter Cayetano was still the secretary.
At the moment, many committees of the PHISGOC are having meetings at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, and tackling the many aspects involved in organizing the Games.
The Philippines will host the Games from November 29 to December 10 next year, and most of the events will be held at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, Subic, Bulacan and in Metro Manila.
There will be a glitzy opening ceremony on November 30 at the 60,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
