By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA
MANILA — Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chairman Alan Cayetano said the New Clark City Sports Complex is now 60 percent done.
“We are ahead of target,” Cayetano said in a press conference on Saturday at Max’s Kabisera in Taguig.
Cayetano then denied rumors that the construction of the 20,000-seater sports stadium is slowing in pace.
“Wala pong katotohanan (There is no truth) that the major venues ay may (has) delay,” he further said, adding that the ones behind the construction are doing fine regardless of the weather.
He said the new sports complex, the main venue of the 30th SEA Games slated from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 this year, is expected to be completed by September.
Last Friday, Cayetano denied reports that the Philippines might lose the rights to host the biennial regional sports meet due to lack of funds to finish the sports venues.
“We at the Philippine South East Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) would like to assure our athletes, the sports community, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the rest of the Filipino people that all preparations for the 30th South East Asian games are in full swing,” Cayetano said.
The PHISGOC has asked for PHP7.5 billion for the country’s fourth hosting of SEA Games but the Senate cut it to only PHP5 billion.
“Despite the budget cuts and various challenges confronting the Philippine hosting of the 30th SEA games, we are unfazed and determined to make this successful,” Cayetano said.
He said the PHISGOC has been tapping private companies to sponsor the Games and augment its budget.
“There is no stopping the Philippines from hosting the 30th SEA games. It may be apparent that there are personalities who are eyeing to sabotage the preparations for the Philippines’ hosting of the SEA games,” Cayetano said.
“We at PHISGOC would like to reiterate our openness to listen and address their concerns on various issues. We will not tolerate fake news or misinformation that will damage the image of the country,” he added.
Aside from New Clark City, some of the 56 sports and 523 events will be held in Metro Manila, Batangas, Subic and Tagaytay.
The last time the Philippines hosted the SEA Games was in 2005 when the country emerged as the overall champion.
At least 10,000 athletes from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Philippines will compete in the 12-day meet.
