With four months to go before the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Sports Commission is finding ways to fast-track the preparations of national athletes competing in the biennial meet in Cambodia.
PSC chairman Richard Bachmann said he is working closely with chef de mission Chito Loyzaga on making things happen more quickly as the playdate of the Games gets closer.
“The chef de mission Chito Loyzaga is like family. I’m working together with him as the point person on the SEA Games,” said Bachmann as he talked about his current responsibilities as the new top executive of the government sports agency.
Bachmann discussed the situation that he and the PSC are in during Tuesday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
An 800-athlete Team Philippines has been listed and presented to the agency, to go with a total delegation of 1,200.
The PSC chief said that he continues to visit their training for the past week to learn and find out from their needs.
And he has come to an agreement with Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino because both of them have taken a hands-on approach when it comes being aware of what’s going in the preparations.
“Cong. Bambol is hands on. And that’s perfect for me, because I am also hands on,” added Bachmann.
The PSC has allocated from general appropriations a P250-million budget for Cambodia and an initial funding of P110 million.
The PSC chief said that nutrition of those in the national pool is one of his main concerns as members of the national delegations focus on having the proper diet.
Bachmann said he has also been seeking funds to get national athletes be properly nourished and this should be done in the first month that he has assumed office.