PHISGOC: Construction of facilities on track

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) has given Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas the assurance that construction of venues and other facilities intended for the 30th SEA Games is on track.

Vargas was given the assurance during a recent meeting among members of the PHISGOC executive committee.

As POC president, Vargas sits as co-chairman of PHISGOC, which is under Alan Peter Cayetano, the former senator and former secretary of Foreign Affairs.

The country’s hosting of the SEA Games, its fourth since 1981, 1991 and 2005, is just nine months away. Sports officials are hell-bent in ensuring that the biggest edition of the biennial meet will go on smoothly.

The main venue of this year’s SEA Games will be the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. It will host 21 sports, including the centerpiece events of athletics and aquatics.

Other venues will be in Subic, Batangas, La Union and Tagaytay, and in Metro Manila, including the Smart Araneta Coliseum, SM Mall of Asia, Philsports Arena, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, World Trade Center, Star Mall Bowling Center, Biñan Sports Complex, SMX Trade Hall, La Mesa Ecopark, Manila Polo Club and the Colegio de San Agustin in Bulacan.

The opening ceremony will be held at the massive Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan while the closing ceremony will be staged at the New Clark City.

Close to 10,000 athletes and officials from the 11 member countries will participate in this year’s SEA Games that will offer a grand total of 523 gold medals in 56 sports from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

PHISGOC officials are making sure that construction of new facilities and repairs of existing venues will be finished ahead of time.

Because of the repairs in some key venues, the Philippine Sports Commission had to order certain sports and their athletes to vacate their quarters at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philsports in Pasig and Teachers Camp in Baguio City.

Vargas had aired apprehension that this may cause a “disruption” or delay in the preparation of the athletes, including the boxers under the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, which is headed by the POC chief.

Ed Picson, ABAP executive director, however, said in coordination with the PSC under chairman William Ramirez they have located a temporary training and billeting facility for the boxers in Baguio City, and that the PSC has promised to take care of the expenses.

“This is an example of an NSA working closely with the PSC to minimize the disruption in the activities of their athletes,” said Vargas.

“The good side is that we are all committed to this SEA Games hosting,” he added.