Solon calls for unity as PH hosts 30th SEA Games

Angara said the nation must pour its attention into displaying what the world-famous Filipino hospitality is all about to its Southeast Asian neighbors. (File Photo: Sonny Angara/Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Sonny Angara on Friday called for unity among Filipinos and a cease from debating on the controversies surrounding the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

Angara said the nation must pour its attention into displaying what the world-famous Filipino hospitality is all about to its Southeast Asian neighbors.

He also warned that the raging views about the country’s hosting of the games could distract athletes, who should be focusing on their training and events.

“Hosting ng Games yan. Dapat naka-concentrate tayo dito. Kasi yung mga atleta natin, kapag maraming issue, baka ma-distract e. Dapat naka-focus lang sa mga competition nila (We should concentrate on hosting the games. Our athletes might get distracted because of these issues. They should be focused on the competition instead),” Angara said.

Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, assured that an audit into the expenses for the SEA Games would be conducted as part of the regular processes of the government.

“Dadaan naman talaga sa auditing ang lahat ng yan. Lahat ng gastusin ng gobyerno ay dadaan talaga sa cost audit. Titignan ito ng Commission on Audit. Yun talaga ang trabaho ng ahensya—kung nagastos ba ng tama ng ahensya yung pera dyan (Everything would undergo auditing. All the expenses of the government will go through a cost audit. The Commission on Audit will look into this. That is the job of this commission–if the agency was able to use the public fund judiciously),” Angara said.

Citing information from the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), Angara said the sports facilities constructed for the SEA Games would eventually make money for the government, which was estimated at a minimum of PHP100 million annually.

Angara noted that the maintenance of the sports facilities would cost an estimated PHP188 million a year and this would be shouldered by the private sector.

“Ganun ang plano nilang gawin para mabawasan yung maintenance cost ng gobyerno kasi may kalakihan din yung gastos sa pag-maintan nito (That’s the plan to reduce the maintenance cost for the government because the expenses to maintain such facilities are too costly),” Angara said.

The SEA Games will run from November 30 to December 11 and will be held at different venues including the New Clark City in Pampanga, the Subic Bay Freeport and Metro Manila.