Hosting preparations going smoothly—Ramirez

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair William “Butch” Ramirez yesterday hailed the recent tripartite agreement involving the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) as the step that puts forward the country’s preparations for the hosting of the Games.

“Now we can move on,” said Ramirez, also the Chief of Mission of Team Philippines.

Ramirez said President Duterte had placed a special concern on the country’s preparations on the Philippine hosting of the Games after special elections were once again called by the POC following the resignation of former president Ricky Vargas several months back.

“Now that the internal issues of the POC have been settled and with all of its officials now moving on the same page, government—through the PSC, and all the other agencies with stakes in the Games, can now also move forward with the preparations,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said newly-elected POC president and Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who is also the PhilCycling chief, is ably steering the national sports associations (NSA) in their roles for the hosting.

“The success of the SEA Games will rest on the now very pronounced cooperation among our sports leaders. Tolentino is able to galvanize the once contending sports leaders into a cohesive group that yes, we can now say the SEA Games is definitely a go,” Ramirez said.

For its part, Ramirez said the PSC would support the technical needs of the NSAs aside from its continuing program to boost their athletes’ chances by funding their training both here and overseas.

“Time, however, is of the essence. We’re no longer counting the days toward the SEA Games but the hours and minutes leading to it,” Ramirez said.

The SEA Games will be held Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.