Major responsibilities concerning the technical aspects of the 30th Southeast Asian Games will be given up by the newly elected Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino.
Tolentino is turning over his job as sports director of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee to former deputy secretary general Karen Caballero following the recent leadership change in the POC.
“Tapos na ang research on the games and the events, and the matters concerning the venues. This is just about the finishing touches, and supervising,” said Tolentino during yesterday’s weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Ermita, Manila.
As the new president of the POC, he will now assume the post of vice president of the Phisgoc, a post that was last held by Ricky Vargas before he resigned.
The 55-year-old Tolentino is now serving out the remaining 15 months of Vargas’ term.
Preparations are now on their final stretches and Tolentino hopes to be in touch with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Phisgoc officials to find out about the many minor details that need to be addressed.
A meeting this Friday is scheduled with the POC executive board, and Tolentino said he will now be the one to answer questions that were not answered by Vargas last June.
“I will be ready (to answer) kung ano ang itatanong nila. Hopefully, it will be a good start for the POC,” said Tolentino.
Tolentino said unity among the many quarreling members of the POC is among the things that he is working.
“Unity muna, we can’t have a direction without this,” said Tolentino.
Meanwhile, Team Philippines chef de mission and PSC William Ramirez is set to have talks with Tolentino in the coming days.
“I am willing to help,” said Ramirez.