Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Butch Ramirez said his agency was sparing no expense to make sure the 30th Southeast Asian Games that the country would host this year have the best equipment.
“How can you proceed with the hosting if there are no equipment,” said Ramirez. “This is a very serious concern that we need to address.”
The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) is expected to spend P190 million to fulfill equipment requirements of 39 out of the 56 NSAs.
Phisgoc executive director Tom Carrasco said the requests of 15 other NSAs were being finalized and would be submitted to the PSC not later than Friday.
“We’re very particular on the submission of equipment by the NSAs,” said Ramirez. “I don’t know how fast we can procure them, we have no control over it.”
The PSC has created a technical working group headed by Boy Dinglasan to facilitate the procurement of equipment.
The technical working group functions under the PSC bids and awards committee, which is in charge of screening requests.
Carrasco said the technical working group has scheduled a meeting with the 56 competitions managers next week to clarify equipment specifications, brand preferences and possible suppliers.