SUBIC BAY Freeport—Once more tapping the wellspring of volunteerism that helped make Subic a model for military base conversion, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma called for the participation of volunteers from the Subic Bay area in the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the Philippines will host late this year.
“Make a difference and be a hero,” Eisma said in a call broadcast over social media on Wednesday.
With the monument honoring Subic’s original volunteers in the background, the SBMA chief urged residents to serve Subic and country: “Come show your malasakit for Subic once again. Be a SEA Games volunteer and give yourself the chance to serve the country and be part of history,” she added.
Eisma said that those interested in joining the SEA Games volunteer program in Subic may apply online at www.mysubicbay.com.ph. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Recruitment of volunteers will be conducted from April to July, with the online registration starting on May 15. Training of volunteers will be held from August to October.
Eisma made the call for volunteers after the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) announced the need for some 12,000 volunteers for the Southeast Asian sports spectacle that will be held in the country from November 30 to December 10.
Phisgoc Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara said that volunteers will be mobilized for the games in Metro Manila, Subic, Clark Freeport and other venues to assist in hosting the 56 sports and 529 events slated in this year’s sports meet.
Eisma said she has called for volunteers to show their malasakit for Subic in so many occasions in the past. “Today, I am calling on you again to join the SBMA team and help make the 30th SEA Games successful,” she said.
Eisma said that out of the 56 sports slated in the 2019 SEA Games, 16 will be played in Subic. These are duathlon, triathlon, pencak silat, sepak takraw, chess, table tennis, muay thai, karatedo, vovinam, obstacle sports, modern-date pentathlon, beach volleyball, beach handball, sailing, wind surfing and traditional boat race.
Phisgoc said the national government will allot around P100 million to P150 million for the volunteer program in order to provide the volunteers with uniforms, transportation, allowance and meals for an eight-hour shift.