Cauldron charred

THE cauldron that will be used for the 30th SEA Games costs P55 million.

The country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is under fire as Sen. Franklin Drilon questioned the massive budget used in the construction of a giant cauldron.

Drilon, the Senate Minority Floor Leader, yesterday stressed that an investigation should be in order and the Commission on Audit (CoA) should conduct an audit report to look into the expenses incurred for the staging of the prestigious biennial meet.

In particular, Drilon questioned the budget used for the construction of the SEA Games cauldron after finding out that it costs a total of P55.9 million — P4.4 million for the design, P13.4 million for the foundation and site construction, P32 million for the installation and P6 million for the wrist tag.

He 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.

Drilon summoned Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chief operating officer Ramon Suzara to explain during the budget deliberation of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) today.

He warned that the budget of the government sports agency would not be approved if no representative from the organizing body would show up at the plenary.

“For me, the most mysterious, most expensive and biggest cauldron in the history of the Philippines and in the world is so extravagant — P55 million just for a cauldron,” Drilon said during the budget hearing of the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

“Whatever we say, the P55 million is too much. We can even use it to build 55 school buildings for our youth. For me, P55 million is an extravagance, unnecessary and somebody has to answer for this.”

“Is that reasonable? Is that a correct prioritization? Each classroom will cost P1 million and just for a cauldron, which should be used only once, we will spend P55 million.”

The cauldron stands as a symbol of sportsmanship and camaraderie among participating countries in major international tournaments such as the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics.

The production of the cauldron was under the PSC and was designed by the late Filipino architect Bobby Mañosa.

But Drilon underscored that the bidding process of the cauldron was not clear.

He urged the CoA to carefully study how the P55 million was spent for the iron that will be used for the ceremonial opening of the Games at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

The Philippine Olympic Committee said Sen. Manny Pacquiao, an eight-division boxing champion, already agreed to light up the cauldron.

“This should be audited properly by the CoA,” Drilon said, adding that the state auditing firm should also take a closer look at how the total P6.5 billion budget for the SEA Games was spent.

“I am asking the CoA to launch a special audit to see how the SEA Games budget was spent.”

Drilon, however, clarified that his scrutiny of the expenses for the SEA Games does not mean that he is not supporting the national athletes.

He said he just wanted to make sure that the funds were spent well for the country’s sports development.

“I terminated my interpellation because we have to support our athletes. This is not their fault. We need to support them so they can compete and bring honor to the country,” he said.

“But it doesn’t mean that we will not question these expenses. In fact, after the Games in December, I will file a resolution asking the Senate to investigate this. Let the athletes compete first and let us support our athletes.”

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sonny Angara, the sponsor of the budget, defended the construction of the cauldron, saying that the government just wanted to do an “impressive hosting” of the meet, which will also showcase the creativity of Filipino designers and performers.

Angara added that coming up with a cauldron is a common practice in major international meets.

“I think it is heart of hearts. The good sponsor, with good intention as he is, finds difficulty justifying a P50-million kaldero which is equivalent to 50 (classrooms),” he said.