PSC seeks P10M more for SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission has sought an additional P10 million from Malacañang for the country’s participation in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Apart from the P30 million it has set aside and the P10 million courtesy of businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, PSC chairman Richie Garcia said there’s the need for more.

“We want to make sure everything is covered,” said Garcia, who wrote Malacañang the other day regarding the request.

“Things might come up while we’re there. We need to be ready for any unforeseen event. Besides, this will be liquidated to Malacañang. In case it is not spent then we can return it,” he said.

Garcia added in his previous discussion with Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa, the latter sounded positive.

“Even in the past, Malacañang has always been there to help,” the PSC chief added.

Everything that is raised by the PSC will be used to fund 417 athletes and close to 200 officials (medical, administrative, technical and support staff) for the Nov. 11-21 SEA Games.

The rest will be funded by the private sector, and it includes 95 athletes, mostly in team events, as well as the accompanying officials.

By the day, the size of the delegation increases, and as of yesterday it was reported that it has reached 843. Deputy chef-de-mission Romeo Magat said nothing is final yet.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco said there’s an urgent need for additional staff, particularly medical personnel and those who will man the kitchen.

Cojuangco said the fact that there are three different venues for this year’s SEA Games will make it very difficult or almost impossible for the medical staff to cover the needs of all the athletes.

“We have hundreds of athletes in Palembang, Jakarta and West Java. And in Jakarta, athletes from 22 different events will be billeted in different hotels,” said Cojuangco.

“How can 20 medical personnel, including masseurs and physical therapists work on all of them? In Jakarta alone, the traffic will make it hard for them to move from one hotel to another,” he added.

In the 2009 SEA Games in Laos, 20 medical personnel proved enough to handle the athletes because they were billeted in one athletes’ village, contrary to the setup in Indonesia.

Cojuangco also plans to bring in a team of chefs to take care of the athletes’ needs on the dining table. And he needs a team set up in Jakarta, Palembang and West Java.

“We plan to rent a house in each of the venues so we can cook our own food. But we need the people to do the job. We cannot rely on the food of offered by the organizers because some of them are not suitable to all our athletes.”