Bong Go urges groups behind SEA Games to unite
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Monday questioned the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee’s (Phisgoc) preparedness for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, saying better management is needed over an apology.
“As of October 30, 2019, Phisgoc stated that preparations are 90% complete. Bakit nangyari ang mga ganito? (Why did this happen?)” Go said during his privilege speech at the Senate.
“Hindi apology ang kailangan natin ngayon. Hindi ito madadaan sa apology lamang. Ang kailangan ay gisingin lahat. Huwag papatay patay,” he added.
(An apology is not what we need right now. This will not be resolved solely through an apology. What we need is to wake up everybody and not be lousy.)
At least four national football teams from other countries have encountered transportation and accommodation difficulties following their arrival in the country for the SEA Games.
“There have been news reports on apparent inefficiencies that have been hounding our hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. These have caused our Southeast Asian brothers from Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Thailand inconveniences which they must not have experienced so close to the start of the Games,” Go said.
“Some of the alleged problems consist of transportation, accommodation, and travel issues. Meanwhile, our very own women’s football team has expressed frustration over logistical issues,” he added.
Phisgoc has already apologized following several complaints from the foreign football teams.
Go pointed out the country hosting the SEA Games should not only be carried out by several groups alone but also with everybody’s cooperation.
“Mataas ang expectation ng buong mundo sa atin bilang host ng Southeast Asian Games. The reputation of the country is at stake,” Go said.
(There is a high expectation towards us as the host of the Southeast Asian Games. The reputation of the country is at stake.)
“Hindi ito burden ng isang grupo lamang, hindi lang ang gobyerno, hindi lang ang PSC [Philippine Sports Commission] o POC [Philippine Olympic Committee] o PHISGOC, bilang Pilipino, lahat tayo host dito sa Southeast Asian Games kung kaya’t ito ang oras na dapat magtulungan, hindi magsisihan,” he continued.
(This is not a burden of one group alone, not only to the government, not to the PSC, POC or PHISGOC. All of us are hosts of the Southeast Asian Games so this is the time to help each other and not blame each other.)
The Philippines is hosting the SEA Games happening from November 30 to December 11.
