Ramirez assures proper use of funds for SEAG hosting

Safety protocols have been put in place to safeguard the government funds intended for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Butch Ramirez on Wednesday said the government sports agency would install clear guidelines on the process of disbursement to ensure the proper use of public funds.

The Philippines will host the Games to the tune of P6 billion, with the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) and the PSC vowing to use the funds efficiently for the success of the 11-nation sportsfest.

“As instructed by the President, we shall shield the athletes [from politics] to allow them to focus on their training and assist in the hosting of the Games by ensuring the proper and timely processing of funds,” Ramirez said.

The PSC chief explained that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will manage the disbursement of funds along with the procurement service for the purchase of equipment, fixtures and other requirements for the Games.

He pointed out that the process would begin as soon as the PSC receives a request from Phisgoc with supporting documents such as the board resolution of the latter approving the said requisition.

The PSC would then scrutinize and evaluate the budget proposal of Phisgoc and the quality of the requirements to be purchased before forwarding them to the DBM, which has the final say on the transaction.

Ramirez said previous releases are required to be cleared first before new funding is disbursed.

As the fund-disbursing body to Phisgoc, PSC has acknowledged the fact that it has the burden of accountability.

“We want to ensure that everything is aboveboard. It is our signatures that will be affixed on those documents, thereby holding us accountable,” Ramirez said.