PSC, POC join hands to save SEAG hosting

MANILA, Philippines - The window is still open for the Philippines to host the 2019 SEA Games with PSC chairman Butch Ramirez and POC president Jose Cojuangco, Jr. now in talks to save the project but it will take President Duterte to finally decide whether to proceed or not.

With the POC’s endorsement, the core of the country’s elite athletes and coaches recently sent a letter to the Chief Executive appealing for a reconsideration of the decision to surrender the hosting rights. President Duterte previously tapped Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri to head the SEA Games Organizing Committee for the 2019 event with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as his representative.

President Duterte later decided to back out of the hosting commitment and cited the Marawi situation as a cause for concern, explaining that the budget for the SEA Games would instead be channelled for the rehabilitation of the war-torn city.

But Ramirez said President Duterte may reconsider.  The appeal from the national athletes and coaches will carry weight in a possible reconsideration. “Let’s wait for the President’s decision,” said Ramirez during the Philippine delegation send-off for the SEA Games the other day. “Cong. Peping and I have been talking on the phone. The PSC has the budget for it so funding isn’t the issue. The appeal was sent to the President last July 25. I’m sure we’ll hear from Secretary Medialdea soon.”

There is urgency to decide whether or not the Philippines will host the 2019 SEA Games. A turnover ceremony is planned during the closing program of the SEA Games in Malaysia on Aug. 30 and the Department of Tourism has prepared a 30-minute show with 30 participants to set the stage for the next event in two years. Thailand and Indonesia have signified interest to assume the hosting in 2019 but the Philippine decision remains unconfirmed.

Actually, the Philippines’ turn to host the SEA Games isn’t supposed to come until 2025. Under a rotating cycle, Brunei should host in 2019 but it withdrew, leading the POC to volunteer taking over. “Countries are excited to come to the Philippines for the next SEA Games,” said Cojuangco. “I’m still hoping we can host. We spent about P350 Million to host in 2005 and I think with support from the government and private sector, we can hold another unforgettable SEA Games. A decision to reconsider by the President is an assurance of a stabilizing peace and order situation. It would also position sports as a government priority.”

A source said the PSC has set three conditions for the staging of the SEA Games here in 2019. The first is nobody from the 2005 organizing committee, except for Cojuangco, will be involved. This is because P27.2 Million remains unliquidated by the 2005 committee to the PSC. The second is the POC must immediately submit a detailed list of events and sports in the 2019 calendar so the PSC can set aside the appropriate budget. The third is no outsider will be named to any of the working committees with a preference for the younger POC officials to participate more actively. It was also mentioned that in case the event pushes through, the PSC will control the disbursement of its funds without a third party distributor.

A group made up of Philippine Squash Academy president Bob Bachmann, Netball Philippines president Charlie Ho, Philippine Taekwondo Association secretary-general Rep. Monsour del Rosario and Philippine Karatedo Federation secretary-general Raymund Reyes submitted the conditions to Cojuangco in a meeting at his Dasmariñas Village residence recently.

“Once the relationship issue between the PSC and POC is resolved, then maybe they can move forward together for the sake of the national athletes,” said a source. “I think the POC should realize that it won’t be able to stage the SEA Games singlehandedly without the PSC’s support. Demanding that the POC will control the management of the entire event will definitely not be acceptable to the PSC because public funds are involved. Besides, there’s still the issue of unliquidated amounts dating back to 2005.”