Volunteers have started trickling in and signing up to help organizers prepare for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Around 350 individuals have registered during the launch of the SEA Games Volunteers Program last Friday at the Lakeshore Hall in Taguig City.
The activity seeks to mobilize youth volunteers for the region’s premiere multi-sport event.
“We want to give opportunities to Filipinos to be part of the biggest SEA games in its history, not just as spectators but as working volunteers,” said Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chairman Alan Peter Cayetano during the launch.
The PHISGOC chairman was joined at the launch by House Deputy Speaker and sports advocate Congressman Pia S. Cayetano, along with volleyball stars Alyssa Valdez and Fille Cainglet-Cayetano.
Organizers are targeting 12,000 volunteers who can be mobilized to go to event venues in Clark Field, Subic, Metro Manila and other areas in Southern Luzon.
Around P100 million to P150 million will be set aside for the program which will come from the P5 billion budget from the national government.
PHISGOC executive director Ramon Suzara said the volunteers will be given uniforms, transportation, allowance and meals for an 8-hour shift.
Game venues will also have a dining and resting area for the volunteer workforce.
Recruitment of volunteers in venues at Manila, Clark, Subic, Tarlac, La Union, Tagaytay and Batangas have already begun and will go on until July.
Online registration will commence on May 15 while training of the volunteers will be held from August to October.
Meanwhile, Congressman Cayetano said local communities play an important role in ensuring the success of the country’s hosting of the SEA Games from November 30 to December 10 2019.
“Once the organizing committees finalize all the venues for the games, we need each community within that area to volunteer, especially the youth,” said Cayetano, who is running for senator in the coming polls
“On a macro scale, the Philippines will be the host; but on a micro scale, we need to harness our local communities so that we can really win as one,” she added.