House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano doesn't see anything wrong with the P55 million spent on the construction of the cauldron that would be used in the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Cayetano, who chairs the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc), said the P55 million that the government spent for the cauldron is was not overpriced and excessive since national artist in the late Francisco Mañosa designed it.

In fact, when Singapore hosted the prestigious biennial meet in 2015, it spent a total of P66 million for the construction of its cauldron, which now stands as a symbol of camaraderie and sportsmanship located at the Waterfront Plaza at the Singapore Sports Hub near the National Stadium.

"The cauldron that has been put in the spotlight is cheaper than what was built by Singapore in the last four years. Singapore spent P66 million and the version of its cauldron was not made by a national artist," Cayetano told Sen. Franklin Drilon during the budget deliberation of the Philippine Sports Commission.

The construction of the SEA Games cauldron drew flak after Drilon found out that the government spent P4.4 million for the design, P13.4 million for the site construction, P32 million for the installation and P6 million for the wrist tag for a total of P55.9 million.

The lawmaker tagged the cauldron as extravagant and unnecessary, saying that somebody should be held accountable for this lavish expenditure, which is a clear abuse of fund meant for the national athletes.

Presidential spokesman also reminded Cayetano that he would be held accountable for blunders in the country's hosting of the biennial meet.

"Speaker Alan is accountable to everything that relates the SEA Games," Panelo said in a telephone interview.

"Whatever misstep that would happen, of course, he would be accountable to the government because he's the one running it."

Panelo, however, said it's still too early to pin the blame.

"But, meanwhile, let's not prejudge."

Cayetano reiterated that they made good use of government money.

"The cauldron is the symbol. It is not just one of the symbols, but the main symbol of the Games — whether the Olympics, Asian Games or the SEA Games. It is a work of art," he said during the budget hearing graced by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez.

"So when people see the cauldron, we see the monument. We see the athletes."

"We see the burning flames that represent hope and the fighting spirit. So, I think, it is appropriate in th same manner that the Senate has approved the budget of the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) by P40 million to be P50 million for the Philharmonic. It's the same way we supported that."

Cayetano said the massive New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, which will serve as the site of the biennial meet set from 30 November to 11 December, would not turn into a "white elephant" as they are planning to turn it into a beehive of sports activities.

Aside from hosting of major international competitions, they are planning to establish the National Sports Academy for High School Students, which is quite similar to the Philippine Science High School or the National High School for the Arts.

*Francis T. Wakefield* @tribunephl_FTW