RP will be ready, Obet tells SEAGF

Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) chairman Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan gave the elite SEAG Federation a resounding assurance that the Philippines is ready to take on the challenge of hosting the Games in Nov. 2005.

Prior to conducting a briefing on the venues for the Games, Pagdanganan told the Federation members that the 2005 SEAG would highlight the partnership of government and the private sector of the host nation.

"This is a mean task for us but our private sector and the government have been through parallel occasions and modesty aside, we were able to transcend challenge of various proportions with flying colors," Pagdanganan told the SEAG Federation at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

Pagdanganan said that his marching orders from President Arroyo is to ensure that the needs for the hosting be assembled ahead of time and the conduct of the Games as smooth as possible.

He noted that this early, private sector pledges are beginning to flow including those from Samsung, WG&A, Wyeth Corporation and Pacific Internet, all of whom expressed their readiness to answer the call through Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain.

"Samsung and Wyeth have been helping us in the training aspect while WG&A is always there to provide support for our travel needs and Pacific Internet, one of the largest telecom business in the nation, has already guaranteed its information technology support to chairman Pagdanganan," Buhain said.

Pagdanganan reported that four major venues have been identified — Metro Manila, Subic, Bacolod City and Cebu City — or the 41 sports.

Metro Manila will host majority of the events including the centerpiece event, athletics, while Bacolod City will take care of boxing, regarded as one of the most important events for the hosts. Taekwondo, a sport that nearly produced an Olympic medal in Greece, will be hosted by Cebu City along with two other contact sports, karate and judo.

Water sports will be staged at the La Mesa Dam. Pasay shall host bowling and chess while basketball will be hosted by Makati City.