SEA GAMES PREPARATION. Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chairman Alan Peter Cayetano (center) clarifies that PHISGOC will remain as organizing body of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in a press conference at the Kabisera Restaurant in BGC, Taguig City on Thursday (June 20, 2019). Cayetano, accompanied by PHISGOC vice chairman Abraham Tolentino (left) and chief operation officer Ramon Suzara (right), made the remark due to the resignation earlier of Ricky Vargas as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
MANILA -- The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) is the only official organizing committee of the 30th SEA Games, PHISGOC chairman Allan Peter Cayetano said on Thursday.
Cayetano explained that the mandate of PHISGOC to organize the country's hosting of the 30th SEA Games is vested by law and imbued with public interest.
“Its (PHISGOC) designation as the official organizing committee cannot be revoked by any private party," said Cayetano in a press conference at the Kabisera Restaurant in BGC, Taguig City.
"All talks about any other party taking over the organization of the Games unnecessarily create a cloud of instability and uncertainty, causing extreme apprehension on the part of the Games' sponsors and private sector partners," he added.
"We thus assure the Filipino people, including all stakeholders, sponsors and partners of the Games, that under the express instruction of President Duterte, PHISGOC remains as the only official organizing committee of the 30th SEA Games," Cayetano further said.
Despite the change of leadership in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Cayetano said he is still confident that PHISGOC can continue to work directly and closely with the POC.
The PHISGOC has emphasized that the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) are integral and indispensable components of the organizing committee. Both heads of the POC and PSC are at the helm of the PHISGOC Executive Board as co-vice chairmen to oversee all preparations for the Games.
Cayetano said the country's hosting of the 30th SEA Games is an event aimed at bringing glory for the Philippines by elevating to Olympic standards the level of hosting of the biennial sports meet.
"'PHISGOC is committed to deliver the biggest, best-hosted, and most viewed SEA Games in history. We do this for the country and for the Filipino people,'' Cayetano said.
On June 18, Ricky Vargas tendered his irrevocable resignation as POC president to give “other sports leaders who have the time and inclination needed to lead the POC more effectively”.
The Philippines will be hosting for the fourth time the SEA Games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 this year.
The last time the country hosted the regional sports meet was in 2005 when it won the overall championship. (PNA)
