Cayetano hits SEA Games budget critics

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday hit back at former president Benigno Aquino III and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for their criticism of the P6-billion budget for the 30th Southeast Asian Games to be hosted by the country, branding it as “hypocrisy.”

At a press conference in Tarlac, Cayetano slammed the opposition leaders for their double standard in criticizing the Duterte administration’s expenditure on the SEA Games, particularly the P55-million cauldron for the opening and closing ceremonies that they said is an “unnecessary extravagance.”

Cayetano, also chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), reminded Aquino and Drilon of the P10-billion budget spent for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2015 during the previous administration.

“The hypocrisy I’m saying is that when they asked Congress for P10 billion for APEC they said it would be for the good representation and benefit of the nation and justified it, but for this SEA Games they would say the budget for the cauldron – which is a work of art that will be forever owned by the government – should have been spent in building 50 classrooms instead. How many classrooms would have been built if we did not host the APEC?” he stressed.

He recalled that significant amount of funds were spent during the APEC summit for artists and performers.

Cayetano said Aquino apparently forgot that the former president asked the then majority leader to tone it down regarding the budget for APEC bacause the international press were present.

Cayetano then asked Aquino if the gala nights weren’t a little too extravagant, to which the answer was: “Boss, representasyon ito ng ating bansa.” 

He said the SEA Games and symbol of athletes,  the fighting spirit of the Filipino can’t be equated in pesos and centavos: “P50 million, titirahin nila?”  

The Department of Finance (DOF) said yesterday that the funds spent by the government for the construction of a sports complex in New Clark City has been “well spent,” highlighting the benefits of having such a world-class facility.

At a press briefing held in New Clark City, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the construction of the P9.5-billion sports facility was finished on time and within budget.

“This project, I think, is well spent, not only for the athletes, but for the pride of our country. We now have, for the first time in 80 years, a world-sports facility,” Dominguez said.

“Our athletes are really world-class and they deserve a facility like this,” he added.

According to the finance chief, the sports complex will prove useful not only for local athletes during the upcoming SEA Games.

He said this facility might also be used by foreign athletes for their preparation for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year.

The project includes the establishment of the National Government Administrative Center, which will host the main offices of several government agencies and house back-up facilities for all state offices.

The New Clark Sports Complex also features the Athletics Stadium, Aquatic Center and the Athletes Village, which were finished within 18 months, just in time for the country’s hosting of the SEA Games.

Cayetano said it is also not fair for Drilon to put to shame the Duterte administration prior to the hosting of the games, when the opposition lawmaker himself admitted there was no overprice with the P50-million cauldron, except that he was questioning its propriety. 

“Sa bibig mismo ni Senator Drilon nanggaling: Hindi ito overpriced. Walang nagsasabi na it’s excessive or overpriced. E ‘di anong issue (So what’s the issue)?” he asked. 

The Speaker disclosed that Drilon himself asked the administration for budget allocation for the Cultural Center of the Philippines for its Philharmonic Orchestra’s world tour. 

“The day before he brought it up… Senator Drilon was asking for P50 million for CCP for the Philharmonic, which we supported, because that’s about Filipino values and culture,” he said. 

Cayetano further accused critics of crab mentality.

“They think this SEA Games is seafood. All we get is crab mentality,” he lamented. “If there will be an event for crab mentality, it’s obvious who will win the gold medal.”

Cayetano also believed that Drilon should have not brought up the lack of classrooms in the country’s schools because it worsened under the Aquino administration.

“Sen. Drilon forgot that it’s their administration which insisted on the K-12 program, that’s why we now have shortage in classrooms,” he pointed out.

The Speaker likewise slammed Aquino, who should instead be proud that his home province Tarlac was one of the main venues of the international event.