It’s clear and simple.
The POC, being on top of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc), will handle the marketing and overall preparations for the games while the PSC, being the government-funded agency, will handle the training of the national athletes, the purchasing of equipment and the construction or renovation of sports facilities for the biennial meet.
"Philsoc will take charge in preparing the games. And when we say take charge, its role is also to organize the various committees that will be necessary to operate the games," said POC president Celso Dayrit yeterday.
The committees to be formed, he said, are those for accommodations, ceremonies, transportation, accreditation, media and technical, which involves the people who will actually handle the competitions.
"Kung baga sa fiesta, Philsoc ang comite de festejos," said the POC chief.
Dayrit was named Philsoc president the other day after an agreement made by the POC with the Office of the Executive Secretary. At the same time, the PSC was stripped of representation in Philsoc after the Office of the President said "members of the Cabinet and their deputies and assistants are prohibited from holding any other office" such as Philsoc.
Dayrit said as far as the budget is concerned, it will be Philsoc that will have to raise it through sponsors.
"We will market it. And it depends kung magbigay pa ang government . But we will welcome it. We will not use PSC money because it’s for the athletes," said Dayrit, who added that marketing of the games will have to start as soon as possible.
Dayrit said that in 1991, the last time the country hosted the SEA Games, Mansoc (Manila Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee) spent a total of P250 million – at a time when the peso-to-dollar ratio was 20 to 1.
"This time, we’re working it out na magtitipid tayo. And if we can get P350 to 400 million, kaya na. We will have to raise that. And that won’t be easy. So, I think the government will help also," Dayrit said.
The national fencing association president said the PSC, under chairman Eric Buhain, should focus on only one thing: the preparation of the national athletes.
"They should do this only to ensure that we will have a good performance.
That’s a very big role and we’re giving them that," said Dayrit.
Sending the national athletes to international competitions prior to the 2005 SEA Games will also be part of the PSC role as usual.
"And with all these roles, the PSC should take it upon themselves to set the target on our overall performance in 2005. The refurbishing of sports venues and facilities will also be handled by the PSC because they will need government funds for these.
"Hindi makiki-alam ang Philsoc diyan," added Dayrit.
Buhain, who won six gold medals in swimming during the 1991 Manila SEAG, said a Philippine SEA Games Advisory Group will be formed soon to "ensure the success" of the event. The group, he said, will be composed of key Cabinet members led by Romulo.