UNLESS additional funds come pouring in, Filipino athletes will have to make do with what’s available as they prepare for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi in May.
“We have to face the reality because of this pandemic,” Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
Tolentino said there’s little hope the 584 athletes in the POC list can embark on overseas training barely four months before the Philippines sets out to defend the overall SEA Games crown.
“I doubt kung meron pang overseas training,” he said during the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, Unilever, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., with Prime Edge as social media and webcast partner.
Everything seemed to be going back to normal a couple of months ago until the COVID Omicron variant barged into the picture and left the SEA Games preparations back to square one.
“Nakakahinga na sana ng konti,” Tolentino recalled as he expressed hope the POC would have enough time to draw support from Congress and the private sector to boost the budget for the SEA Games.
The Philippine Sports Commission allocated P121 million for the SEA Games. Originally, the budget stood at P200 million, but a huge chunk was already spent for training before the pandemic kicked in.
The Hanoi SEA Games was originally scheduled last November but was reset to May this year.
“We’re working amid all the budgetary constraints,” said Tolentino, who ended up asking himself if the Philippines can keep the overall title amid the strong challenge from host Vietnam.
“Can we defend the overall championship? A lot of things have happened. Mahirap sagutin ‘yan. Second, the budgetary constraints will have a huge effect on our campaign,” he said.
“Kaya pa rin i-defend pero uphill battle,” Tolentino said, adding the host country has scrapped more than 40 events where the Philippines won gold medals in 2019, and added more than 30 events where they are favored to win.
