Go assures audit for SEAG hosting

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano explained why the SEAG cauldron, which Drilon critiqued in interviews, costs P50 million. #30thSEAG #BongGo #AlanPeterCayetano

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday said an audit of all spending for the hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) will be conducted at the proper time to ensure that no funds are wasted.

“There is a right time for everything… these questions pertaining to the organizing of the 2019 SEA Games are being answered now for the benefit of the public,” Go said during the hearing on the 2020 budget of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) amid the controversy over the P50 million cost of the SEAG cauldron.

“Kung mayroon man pong katiwalian sa ating mga sports bodies, ako po mismo, bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Sports, ang mangunguna sa pag-iimbestiga nito,” Go added.

During the hearing, Go moved that questions about the SEAG hosting including the expensive cauldron be addressed to the organizer to clarify pressing issues, uphold transparency and accountability, and be united in rallying support for local athletes.

“The PHISGOC, as the organizing committee, is in a better position to give accurate information regarding its involvement in the preparation for the Games,” said Go.

“If my colleagues in this chamber insist on asking questions beyond the scope of the PSC budget, then, I think, it would be more prudent to hear answers straight from the horses’ mouth. I, too, want to get to the bottom of things based on the rules and in order not to prolong the discussions here at the expense of the budgets of the PSC and other agencies scheduled today,” he said.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, chair of the PHISGOC, answered questions related to the organizing of the 30th SEAG slated on 30 November to 11 December.

Cayetano addressed the questions of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon about the cost of the New Clark City Sports Complex.

“Are we spending a lot of money? Yes. Is it excessive? No. Is it overpriced? No,” Cayetano said as he defended how funds are being spent properly for what is projected to be the biggest SEAG organized by a host country so far in the Games’ entire 40-year history. Organizers estimated a billion viewers worldwide for the entire duration of the Games.

“A multi-sport event like this is a matter of national pride. It focuses on our people, it focuses on our culture, it benefits us in tourism, foreign investments. Sports tourism alone is $620-billion industry which we want to tap into,” the Speaker said.

Drilon commented that he never said that the sports complex was “overpriced.”

Cayetano added, “Malaysia spent 7 billion on hosting alone, 15 billion in sports development and 1.5 billion to upgrade the facilities. Our SEA Games will be the biggest in history. The most number of sports. We expect a billion viewers.”

He also explained why the cauldron, which Drilon critiqued in interviews, costs P50 million.

“The cauldron that has been put in the spotlight is cheaper than what was built by Singapore four years ago, 63 million. Ang ‘yung sa Singapore po ay hindi National Artist (ang nag-design).

“The cauldron is the symbol, not one of the symbols. It is the symbol of the Games, whether it’s the Olympic Games or SEA Games. It is a work of art. While some people may see a cauldron, we see a monument, we see the athletes, we see the burning flames that represent hope and the fighting spirit.”

As to Drilon’s question why PHISGOC, a foundation, is the main organizer of the SEAG instead of a government agency, Cayetano explained that it is in accordance with the rules and common practice in organizing such international sporting events.

“It is the SEA Games Federation that owns the Games, and all the Games are ran by foundations. In the IOC rules and the SEA Games Federation rules, it is either the Olympic Committee, but they will form the foundation that will be the organizing committee, or it could be multi-stakeholder,” he said.

“We had no choice. If we don’t want a foundation, we cannot host the Games,” Cayetano emphasized.

After the issues were clarified, Sen. Miguel Zubiri moved that the PSC’s P672 million budget for 2020 be deemed submitted and approved.