ALAN PETER CAYETANO took a swipe at the Senate for slashing a third of the proposed funding for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year.
From a proposed P7.5-billion budget, the figure went down to P5 billion—a number that Cayetano said puts the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc)—the body he chairs—in a tight bind.
“I’ll be honest with you…if the budget will go to free education, or hospital [that should be built], then it’s more than a privilege for us [Phisgoc] to support it even if it means a lot for us organizers to lose 33 percent,” said Cayetano, a former senator himself who is now running for a congressional seat in Taguig City after his stint as foreign affairs secretary.
“But the problem is that it [slashed budget] will just go to the senators—unspecified projects of the senators,” he stressed after a contract-signing ceremony with partners of the SEA Games hosting at the Kalayaan Hall of the SM Aura on Wednesday.
“We kept on asking the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission], POC [Philippine Olympic Committee], the NSAs [national sports associations] on why they are always failing to win medals, but then when it comes to putting the money where your mouth is, the money is always diverted,” he added.
The funding for the SEA Games is part of the P3.7-trillion National Budget for 2019.
Cayetano said the Phisgoc has no option but to raise funds particularly from private sponsors to raise P1 billion more, which he said would put the organization’s head above water.
Cayetano, PSC Chairman William Ramirez and POC officials led by Secretary-General Patrick Gregorio proceeded to Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon to for a crucial meeting with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and budget and public works officials.
The SEA Games are set from November 30 to December 11, and on Wednesday, the Phisgoc has started sealing deals with domestic and foreign partners. The Phisgoc welcomed six partners—games management system provider Atos, official carrier Philippine Airlines, venue overlays service provider GL Events, sports apparel Grand Sports, footwear and sports equipment brand Asics and game ball sponsor Sonak Corp.
In the Phisgoc’s effort to make the Games the most viewed and most memorable, a partnership was also sealed with Spain-based MediaPro Asia.
Cayetano said sponsorships range from $3 million down to $1 million.
All partners have established expertise in the Asian market, having worked with numerous Asian-level events in the past.
“We win as one,” Cayetano said as he opened the contract-signing ceremony. “Together, we can make this the most viewed and [best hosted] SEAG.”
“More than just investing in this year’s SEA Games, you are investing in our country, our people and the development of our athletes. Not only Filipino athletes but athletes of the Southeast Asian region,” Ramirez told the partners.
Touted as the biggest SEAG in history, the 2019 edition will feature 56 sports and 523 events spread across 39 venues in Subic, Clark, Tagaytay, La Union and Metro Manila.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes