PSC chief takes active role in preparations

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) will reshuffle officials involved in preparations for the regional event, which is just two months away.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who heads the committee, said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman  and chef-de-mission William Ramirez would take a more active role in the  day-to-day operations.

“Since the event is fast approaching, we are thinking, we were advised to put up a crisis or executive committee for day-to-day operations. Chairman Ramirez has told me that he is willing to do more and focus on this task,” he said.

He said the committee might take over the job of Ramon Suzara, who is chief operating officer of the Games, and whose principal function was planning for the event.

“Mr. Suzara is in Japan for his commitment for Olympics 2020. But his role was really planning and advising. So there would be a reassignment of roles because the planning stage has been finished,” he said.

Cayetano denied that Suzara has resigned.

“We are just reassessing the role of every single person, especially considering that some of our sports leaders have commitments abroad like Mr. Suzara,” he said.

Congress has appropriated P5.1 billion for the 2019 SEA Games, and it’s included in the PSC budget.

Congress also gave the PSC P250 million for its operations.

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero of 1-Pacman, a sports patron, said the PSC and other agencies involved in the Games should ramp up their preparations, which he added have been affected by the delay in the enactment of this year’s national budget.

In addition to the budgetary appropriation, the PSC and sports organizations are tapping the private sector for additional funding.