Senator Koko Pimentel III on Monday called on officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to give a comprehensive update on the status of preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games or SEA Games, which the country will be hosting from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 this year.
“We’ve been receiving reports about delays in preparation of sports venues and bugdet concerns. Our sports officials need to tell us and the general public how things are going. The last thing we need is an ill-prepared, poorly-conceived Games. The spotlight is on the country and it will be an embarrassment if we fail to deliver on our promise as host.”
The biennial regional event has been touted as the biggest staging of the SEA Games ever, with 11 countries participating and competing for a total of 529 gold medals in 56 sporting events.
Venues are spread across Subic, New Clark City, Tagaytay and Metro Manila.
“The spotlight is on the country and it will be an embarrassment if we fail to deliver on our promise as host.”
Sports officials revealed last month that they would double efforts in soliciting funds from the private sector after the Senate approved only P5 billion of the P7.5 billion proposed budget, or a funding slash of 33 percent.
Pimentel agreed that costs should be shared by the private sector, as the benefits of visitor arrivals and spurred spending activity will benefit businesses directly and indirectly.
“Let’s exercise transparency so that we can better prepare and make this the best SEA Games ever.”
“Athletes and visitors will stay in hotels, do shopping, visit tourist sites and post their experiences on social media. That’s a great opportunity for the private sector to increase its profile regionally and internationally, apart from the obvious revenue generated by the Games,” the lawmaker explained.
The Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship chair noted, however, that government should first to lay solid groundwork for an organized and memorable SEA Games, thus the need to fully appraise the public on the status on ongoing preparations.
“I remain optimistic we will resolve the issues surrounding the Games. In the meantime, let’s exercise transparency so that we can better prepare and make this the best SEA Games ever.”
