TAGUM CITY - The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) wants closer relations with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) to formally shift the country's preparation for its hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games to a higher gear.

PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez raised the need to ramp up the buildup following the release of Memorandum Circular 56 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Medialdea instructed all government agencies to support Phisgoc in the country's hosting of the biennial meet from 30 November to 10 December.

Since the PSC will serve as the funding agency, Ramirez is taking the lead and quickly called for an inter-agency coordination meeting to discuss crucial matters like security measures, traffic and waste management, health issues and budget requirements. The meeting is set next week. Ramirez, however, also needs to sit down with POC president Ricky Vargas and Phisgoc chairman Alan Peter Cayetano to plot strategies for the prestigious biennial meet.

He said they are way behind in terms of preparation.

He added that Vargas and Cayetano can join him in his meeting with Commission on Audit chairman Michael Aguinaldo on 12 February so he can brief the sports executives about government rules on procurement and liquidation.

"It's high time for PSC, POC and Phisgoc to really sit down and engage in a serious discussion about the SEA Games," said Ramirez at the sidelines of the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao leg Wednesday at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex here.

"We know that 10 months is so close. It's really time for us to talk and be on the same page. We have to clear where we are right now and where are we going in terms of preparation."

The last time Cayetano and Ramirez, who is also the Phisgoc co-chairman with Vargas, talked was two weeks ago after ranking Phisgoc executives filed several financial requests before the government sports agency.

But those discussions didn't involve the partnership and collaboration for the biennial meet, even after the memorandum circular was released.

"But I really wanted a more realistic discussion. If we can have a genuine partnership and if we really love the country, everything can be settled," said Ramirez, who was tasked to manage the P7.5-billion budget that lawmakers will lodge under the account of the PSC.

The fund is expected to be released by March.

"We're very fortunate to have that kind of budget. But we have to talk so we will be on the same page and know how we will spend the fund in relation to government rules from procurement to disbursement."

"SEA Games hosting should emanate from the three of us. So we really have to sit down and discuss SEA Games matters."