PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez admits that they don’t have enough money to host the 10th Asean Para Games in January.

The massive — and expensive — hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games had milked the warchest of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) dry, leaving nothing for the staging of the 10th Asean Para Games.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez admitted that they don’t have enough fund to stage the Asean Para Games next month, prompting them to recommend to the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) to move it to March or until they receive fresh funding from their General Appropriations Act.

Based on the Memorandum Circular 56, the government will provide funding for the SEA Games and the Asean Para Games.

Later on, the overall budget was pegged at P6.5 billion with the P100 million supposed to go to the hosting of the Asean Para Games.

But Ramirez admitted that they don’t have enough money as the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) spent everything for the successful staging of the biennial meet, where the Philippines emerged as overall champion for the second time in 14 years.

“Even if we already have a memorandum circular with Phisgoc before, we cannot push through with the Asean Para Games because we don’t have enough fund,” said Ramirez, confirming Daily Tribune’s previous report about the postponement of the event to March.

“To be honest, we really want to help, but we no longer have the money. We are in a tight situation right now.”

“That’s why I recommended to move the event to the last month of the first quarter of next year.”

The Para Games is a biennial tourney that is being held shortly after the SEA Games.

This year, the PPC calendared 16 sports; archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, chess, cycling, CP (cerebral palsy), football, goalball, judo, powerlifting, swimming, 10-pin bowling, table tennis, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and para triathlon.

Obstacle course race was also included as a demonstration sport.

A total of 1,500 athletes from all over Southeast Asia are tipped to participate in 400 events that would be held at the New Clark City, Subic and some venues in Metro Manila.

PPC president Michael Barredo expressed disappointment over the development, but understands the situation since the country is just fresh from a very expensive SEA Games hosting.

“While we have made every effort to prepare the Games in the past for one and a half years, matters well beyond our control are compelling us to reschedule the event,” Barredo said in a statement shortly after receiving the letter from sports commissioner Arnold Agustin.

Aside from the budget, the logistical requirements of purchasing equipment pose another challenge.

Ramirez said a three-month extension would be enough for them to order everything and raise enough fund for a successful staging of the event.

“I’m very positive to have the fund back in the next three months for it to push through,” Ramirez said.

“The beauty of it was that we are the overall champion and they are expecting more.”