Mayor Tommy denies he is withdrawing SEAG support

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is not backing out from his commitment to support Cebu City's bid to co-host the coming Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) on November 27 to December 5.

"It's not true," said Osmeña, denying a report from another paper yesterday that he is withdrawing his support to the Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (CebuSOC).

The chief executive reiterated his commitment to give CebuSOC P3 million, adding that it is already up to CebuSOC to source out the additional funding to complete the estimated budget requirement of around P12 million to host the SEAG competitions in dancesport, taekwondo, judo, karatedo, pencak silat, mountainbike and sepak takraw.

"I don't care who will raise the additional funding," Osmeña said. "But we will push through with the hosting." DAMAGE CONTROL

CebuSOC chairman Jonathan Guardo made some damage control over the furor, which came out over the alleged withdrawal of support by Mayor Osmeña.

"I am really disappointed when I learned about it because our preparations for the SEAG is already going full blast," Guardo said.

Guardo said he received several text messages yesterday from possible sponsors who are also planning to withdraw their support for Cebu City upon learning of the alleged pull out of Mayor Osmeña.

"I am afraid some of our sponsors will back out," Guardo said. "But I will just assure them that Mayor Osmeña is still supporting us."

Guardo, meanwhile, said the P3 million allocation from the Cebu City Government is already enough to cover for the major expenditure to be incurred in the SEAG co-hosting.

He said the additional funds to be solicited by CebuSOC will be appropriated for the uniform and food of the volunteers, among others.

Yesterday, Guardo, together with Cebu City Councilor Sylvan "Jack" Jakosalem and Commission Richie Garcia of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), convened to iron out kinks with regard to the expenses to be incurred during the SEA Games.

The meeting was also attended by Danao City Councilor Oscar "Boying" Rodriguez and Mandaue City Sports Commission chairman Cheryl Ouano.

Jakosalem said an executive session will be held 10 a.m. on July 13 at the Cebu City Hall to clarify and to explain to the Cebu City Council "how the P3 million will be spent by CebuSOC.

One of the main concerns of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) is to find ways to source out the much-needed funds for the city's co-hosting of the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) late this year.

Chairman Jonathan Guardo of the CCSC voiced out the concern during the Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizational Committee (CebuSOC) meeting yesterday at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) office in the Cebu City Sports Center.

Guardo, however, is confident that the CCSC can come up with the needed P12 million, which will be used for the operational expenses in the SEAG set to kick off on November 27 to December 5.