THIS time around, the staging of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines will be better organized and better managed.
The experience of the past will help officials of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee take care of the organizational details that are important in running the Games.
“I think this will be more organized. Noon, away nang away. Ngayon, wala naman,” said PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
Ramirez discussed the setup in the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games following an initial meeting with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Zubiri called for the meeting after he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to be the chairman of the 2019 Games organizing committee.
The 49-year-old Zubiri, according to Ramirez is taking his new role with caution.
Sports officials at the PSC said he is aware of reported mistakes in the past when the 2005 SEA Games finished with the organizing committee left with an unliquidated amount of around P27 million.
“Very positive siya. Excited. But, he’s careful not to make mistakes,” said Ramirez.
For now, they are awaiting for the official appointment of Zubiri that will come from Malacanang.
From there, they will seek the appointment of a finance officer that will handle and monitor the budget that the PSC will allocate for the Games.
Ramirez said the POC will operate the newly-formed committee with the assistance of the government.
Details on the hosting and the financial assistance coming from the government are now being being discussed in continuous meetings between Ramirez and Zubiri.