POC: May polls to affect SEAG hosting

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas is keeping his fingers crossed that the midterm elections in May won’t have any negative effects on the country’s hosting of the 30th SEA Games in November.

“This is another challenge that we have to face,” said Vargas.

He said changes in leadership at the national and local levels might adversely  affect preparations for the biennial event the country is  hosting for the fourth time.

The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) has been dealing with government officials the past year or two, from members of the Senate and Congress down to the LGUs (local government units).

Vargas said “changes in leadership” in certain areas of government may have an effect on the SEA Games preparations.

“This is another disruption,” he said.

This year’s SEA Games will be staged in Metro Manila and areas like Bulacan, Tagaytay, Subic, Clark and Capas in Tarlac.

Vargas said changes in leadership may affect the preparations or the actual staging of the games because the SEA Games organizers may have to deal with leaders whom they haven’t even met before.

“Especially in Tarlac,” said Vargas, referring to the province north of Manila, where the New Clark City is being built, and would host the centerpiece events of athletics and aquatics, and 19 other sports.

Vargas, just entering his first year as POC chief, is counting on Malacanang’s Memorandum Order No. 56, which calls on all sectors, both in government and private, to throw their full support to the hosting of the SEA Games.

“That is very encouraging,” said Vargas, who is hoping to draw the needed support from the national and local government, regardless of who wins in the coming elections.