PSC doubling efforts to bring 2019 SEA Games hosting to Davao City

THE PHILIPPINE Sports Commission is leaving no stone unturned in bringing the 30th Southeast Asian Games to Davao City in 2019.

PSC Chair William Ramirez said he will make sure the facilities and requirements are 100 percent ready for the 11-nation meet.

Officials would reassess the hosting capacity of the possible venues in the bailiwick of President Duterte. Among these are the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City and SM Lanang in Davao City, along with the sports complex in UP Mindanao and University of Mindanao, which are both under construction.

“We will reassess if these venues can accommodate at least 10 sports each,” said Ramirez, who discussed the hosting with presidential adviser for sports Dennis Uy yesterday.

“From there, if they are short of other things, we will immediately discuss it with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea if the PSC can help augment the construction and finishing of some of the facilities.”

The unfinished 70,000 seater KJC King Dome multipurpose indoor arena adjacent to the Davao City airport is also a possible site.

“I will not risk hosting it there if we cannot finish the facilities,” said Ramirez.