MANILA, Philippines — Amid appeals to make tickets for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games free, Malacañang suggested that students be given a 50-percent discount to watch the games and support Filipino athletes.
The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas earlier called on authorities to let the public watch the games free of charge “in the spirit of unity” and to “maximize homecourt advantage.”
While Malacañang will study the proposal first, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo said students should be given at least a 50-percent discount.
“Kung ako tatanungin niyo, personally they should allow students na libre or kung hindi kaya ng libre, 50 percent discount,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing Thursday.
(If you will ask me, personally they should make the tickets free of charge for students. But if it is not possible, at least a 50 percent discount.)
Tickets for the games range from P50 to P800 while seats for the opening ceremonies on Saturday, November 30, at the Philippine Arena in Bulcanan are set higher at P1,000 to P12,000.
Logistical troubles marred the initial part of the Philippines’ hosting of the 30th SEA Games as foreign athletes started arriving on November 23 and train for the games, which will be held in different venues in Metro Manila, Clark, and Subic and other areas from November 30 to December 11.
Games in water polo, polo, netball, and football have already started in different areas in Metro Manila and Central Luzon since Tuesday.