Obet: We’ll tap volunteers, firms

Roberto Pagdanganan, chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc), said the key elements in the hosting of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games are complete private sector backing and the country’s celebrated spirit of volunteerism.

Emerging from a meeting this week with Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, who defined government’s financial position for the SEAG hosting, Pagdanganan announced that he would lay down and inspire a policy based on resourcefulness so as not to unnecessarily burden the national coffers.

"We all heard President Arroyo declare that we are facing tough times financially. While we are determined to honor an international commitment, we are also one with the government in responding to domestic responsibilities," said Pagdanganan, who will occupy another Cabinet rank post as chairman and president of the Philippine International Trade Corp. after his stint as Tourism Secretary.

On instructions of President Arroyo, Pagdanganan exchanged notes with Boncodin to determine the course of action and find means to augment government’s resources for the hosting of the biennial sports meet, which could cost P1 billion.

Quick to admit that efforts to intensify private sector support campaign is the first option, Pagdanganan said Philsoc will host a summit among sports leaders involved in the preparation to pinpoint areas where resources can be saved, particularly in manpower. The two other organizations working with Philsoc are the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Picking up a vital lesson from his recent trip to the Athens Olympics where he represented the President, Pagdanganan cited the role of some 70,000 volunteers, including our former national swimming sensation Akiko Thomson, who were chosen from a field of 160,000 local and international applicants.

He was impressed by the fact that the individual who drove their shuttle vehicle, who holds a university master’s degree, and other professionals, found an important means to express sense of nationalism.

"Our country is well known for the spirit of Bayanihan. We must be able to make this spirit dominate the Games not only because it is necessary to save on cost but also as a vehicle to prove that we as a people can transcend the challenges with unity of purpose." Pagdanganan is calling on former sports luminaries track queen Lydia de Vega, World Cup king Nepomuceno, Olympic silver medal winner Onyok Velasco, and those who made their marks in the SEAG to lead the volunteerism drive.

Although the challenges for Philsoc to duplicate or improve the second place overall finish in 1991 with then chairman and DOT chief Peter Garrucho, who enjoyed better financial provisions, continue to mount, the current head of the organizing committee remains optimistic.

"No one said this job would be easy, but I am prepared to go the distance. What is vital to me is the unrelenting support of the individual who entrusted me with this responsibility," he said referring to the President, who appointed him as Philsoc chair shortly before the national elections of May 10.

The Games, last held in Vietnam, will be unwrapped in November 2005.