POC hopes to brief DU30 on SEAG hosting

MANILA, Philippines -  Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco said they are arranging an audience with President Duterte to give the “entire picture” on the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and try to convince him to get the government back on board.

“I think if he knows the (whole) story, he’ll reconsider,” Cojuangco said yesterday after the POC board and general assembly unanimously voted to petition to push through with the hosting.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez had earlier announced that the government is withdrawing its commitment to the hosting, saying resources will be channeled to rebuilding efforts in conflict-hit Marawi instead.

“Yung sinasabing sayang ang pera, kung makita nila, hindi naman ganon kalaki (If they’re talking about money, it won’t take that much),” Cojuangco said, relating that in 2005, the country just spent no more than P400 million in staging the Games.

“And it’s two years from now, yun ang nawala sa picture (that’s what had been left out of the picture). Yung kundisyon ngayon baka ibang-iba na (the condition may have improved a lot) two years from now. Even peace and order. Don’t tell me yung Marawi hanggang 2019 andun pa (the Marawi crisis will go on til 2019),” Cojuangco said.

“It’s wrong information that he got, on the fund peace and order,” he added.

According to the POC chief, there are already private entities that have expressed interest in throwing financial support, thereby easing the need for bigger assistance from the government.  

“People should also think about this: How much will it give the Philippines by hosting it?” he said.

The audience with Mr. Duterte is apparently the POC’s last-ditch effort to get government support for the hosting.

“I know he’ll understand, if he sees this, hindi siya kokontra (he won’t disagree with the hosting). Iba lang talaga iyung naririnig niya (It’s just he gets wrong information),” he said.