The budget that would be used for the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games this November will remain intact and will be lodged under the account of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Rep. Prospero Pichay yesterday said he would no longer push for the reduction of the P7.5-billion budget that was proposed by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) last year.

Pichay, the deputy speaker and member of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said instead of slashing the fund, they would just amend the original bill and state that whatever savings the PSC will make out of the bloated budget will be allotted for the rehabilitation and construction of sports facilities all over the country.

The Senate is set to resume its budget deliberation on Monday after receiving the version of the House of Representatives late last year.

The Senate and House versions will be tackled in a bicameral committee meeting and Pichay expects the bill to be passed into law in just a week's time.

"The Senate will definitely expedite it," said Pichay, reiterating that only the PSC has the mandate to handle fund meant for the country's hosting and participation for major international tournaments.

"The fund will still be lodged under the PSC and whatever savings that will be made will be used for the construction of sports complex and facilities. Since (the bill) has yet to pass, there's still time for us to make some minor amendments."

In a previous statement, Pichay said the budget being proposed by Phisgoc is way too much. In fact, he conferred with PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, who told him that they can stage the SEA Games with a budget of just P2.5 billion. Sen. Franklin Drilon added that the Department of Foreign Affairs, a government agency that Phisgoc chief Alan Peter Cayetano used to manage, is also not the rightful agency to handle the SEA Games fund.