Romasanta to gather data, do evaluation

MANILA, Philippines — First order of the day for Ricky Vargas’ successor as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee is to gather all information that can help ensure the country’s successful hosting of the 30th SEA Games in November.

“First things first,” said Jose Romasanta, who as POC first vice president automatically assumes the leadership of the POC following Vargas’ resignation one year and four months after the latter assumed the presidency.

“We need to confer with all the NSAs (national sports associations) for us to make an intelligent assessment of our preparations for the SEA Games,” said Romasanta, who will serve the “unexpired term” of Vargas until November next year.

The 74-year-old sportsman, who once headed the famed Project: Gintong Alay of the ‘80s, emerged from an hour-long meeting with Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez when he spoke to reporters.

Also in the meeting were former POC chief Jose Cojuangco and POC auditor Jonne Go, treasurer Julian Camacho and Atty. Charlie Ho.

Romasanta is calling for a special POC general assembly on June 25 “for us to be briefed by the NSAs as to their preparations, their needs and so on, and for the POC to be able to make a more accurate assessment of how we will fare in the SEA Games.”

“We’d like to get all the information. We also would like to find out about the relationship between the POC and the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee,” said Romasanta.

The former head of the volleyball and karatedo associations thanked Vargas for his time and effort serving the POC as president.

“Mr. Vargas can rest assured that we will run the POC in the manner that he wanted it,” said the new POC president.