Budget cut shortens nationwide torch relay

A torch relay originally set to cover the length and breadth of the country has been reduced to only the key cities that will host the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, thus denying the other local government units the rare chance to participate in the pre-opener of the biennial games slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

At least 15 cities and municipalities have been stricken out of the original route as the organizing Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) has reportedly decided to cut down on expenses, paving the way for the re-routing of the event, designed to intensify national awareness and promote appreciation of the country’s third hosting of the SEA Games.

Aside from Manila, the main hub of the games, other venues hosting the SEAG are Subic, Bacolod and Cebu.

The move also forced Vic Milan to resign as the national torch relay project director. Milan, who was appointed to the post last August and later on as foreign media sub committee chair of the SEAG, was the one who convinced the LGUs of the 15 cities and municipalities to support and participate to ensure the success of the project, only to be told later that a new plan has been laid out.

That would mean a cancellation of activities in Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro, Malaybalay, Davao, Bagbag, Legaspi, Daet, San Pablo, Cabanatuan, Santiago, Tuguegarao, Vigan, San Fernando, Baguio and Dagupan where the torch and the entourage would be met by 11 local personalities, representing the 11 countries competing in the SEAG.

"Hindi maganda ang dating sa Mayor namin itong cancellation. Dapat pala di sila suportahan," said one LGU.

"Masama ito hindi kami ang nag-volunteer, kami ang nilapitan," said another.

Still, one LGU said that it would be difficult for them to cancel their preparations at this late stage.

The Philsoc still has to inform the 15 cities and municipalities of the cancellation of the event, according to Milan.

In the new route, the torch relay will fire off on Nov. 12 in Cebu for a three-day run in Danao and Mandaue City before moving over to Bacolod on Nov. 15-17, then to Iloilo-Kalibo-Caticlan (Nov. 18), Roxas-Calapan (Nov. 19), Batangas-Lipa-Tagaytay (Nov. 20), Sta. Rosa-Los Baños (Nov. 21), Clark (Nov. 22), Subic (Nov. 23-24), Quezon City (Nov. 24-25), Makati (Nov. 25) and then Manila on Nov. 26-27. — Dante Navarro