PSC waits for additional
P90-M SEA Games budget
By Marc Anthony Reyes
Inquirer News Service

A TOTAL of five million pesos will be transmitted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Monday to the organizers of the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Vietnam as down payment for the hotel accommodations of the 658-strong Philippine delegation.

After spending close to 100 million pesos for the training of the athletes, the PSC is asking 90 million pesos more from Malacañang for the actual participation of the contingent for the December 5-12 SEAG.

The additional budget, which will take care mostly of the hotel, airfare, allowances, uniforms and equipment of athletes and officials, has yet to be released.

While the PSC asked for only a 30-million-peso subsidy from Malacañang in the 2001 SEAG, officials said the country is sending more athletes, 449 in all, this time in Vietnam.

Additional funds are also needed because of the new billeting arrangements in Vietnam.

For the first time in SEAG history, athletes will be housed according to their sports and not by the country they represent.

This, according to organizers, would save them a lot of money in terms of transportation costs considering that billeting will be very close to the playing venues.