A budget of P7.5-billion from the government is almost ready for the hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Reports reaching the Philippine Olympic Committee said the Lower House of the Philippine Congress has earmarked this amount for the games to get the venues ready.
POC President Ricky Vargas said that with enough available funds once it is approved in the Senate, preparations are expected to go into high gear next month.
“We have been meeting weekly with the organizing committee. This budget was approved when it was presented during the hearings from Sept. 8 to 12,” said Vargas during yesterday’s POC general assembly at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas.
The funding support from the government side will take care of the infrastructures that will be used for the games and some of the personnel that will be acquired for the hosting.
Because of this, the focus has now shifted to the inclusion of additional events and the selection process of Filipino athletes, who will be competing.
Vargas said funds from sponsors will help athletes prepare better and boost the efforts of the national sports association in their planning as hosts.
Additional events will be known by Sept. 30 as the SEA Games Federation Council meets this week to discuss this.
POC Chairman Abraham Tolentino is flying to Bangkok with a four-man delegation that includes deputy secretary general Karen Tanchangco, auditor Jonee Go and ex-POC president Cito Dayrit.
They will be in a meeting hosted by Thailand National Olympic Committee secretary general Charouk Arirachakaran.
Among the sports proposed to be included in the final list are e-sports, netball, obstacle course, sambo, skateboarding, shuttlecock, surfing, water skiing, sports rock climbing, and aero sports.
Malaysia is proposing the inclusion of tennis, ice skating, and martial arts, which were featured in the previous edition.
On the other hand, Cambodia is seeking the inclusion of petanque and vovinam.