THE Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) on Wednesday announced that a P2.08 government funding for the country’s hosting of the 30th SEA Games in 2019 has been fully liquidated.
The PHISGOC said it has secured a certification from the Philippine Sports Commission’s Accounting Department that all fundings for the SEA Games held from November 30 to December 11, 2019, have been accounted for in response to a declaration by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that it is reopening inquiries into allegations of anomalies.
At the same time, the PHISGOC stressed that it ‘welcomes any and all inquiries’ about the games that genuinely united the entire country in celebration of the Filipino athletes capturing the overall championship in those Games.
PHISGOC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara said the organization’s records have long been completed, submitted and independently examined and that it stands ready to cooperate with any legitimate inquiry.
‘Although post-Games obligations and responsibilities were delayed by the pandemic, the PHISGOC expenses were fully liquidated in March 2022,’ he said.
The PSC certification read: ‘This is to certify that based on the records of the Accounting Division of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the PHISGOC Foundation has submitted all (100%) of the liquidation reports covering the financial assistance granted by the PSC in connection with the hosting of the 30th SEA Games amounting to P2.082 billion.’
Suzara said all PHISGOC financial documents were audited by independent auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers/Isla Lipana and Co.
The PHISGOC said the record of the hosting itself stands as the organization’s strongest testament as the Philippines dominated the Games with 149 gold, 117 silver and 121 bronze medals-a total of 387-making it the most successful SEA Games campaign in the country’s history.
‘It was a multi-agency, multi-department organization whose main purpose was for a successful hosting by the Philippines,’ Suzara said. ‘We achieved this and the entire country rejoiced.’
Suzara also pointed to the New Clark City (NCC) facilities, which continue to benefit Filipino athletes and remain the country’s only internationally certified athletics (World Athletics-certified as Class 1) and aquatics (World Aquatics) venues capable of hosting competitions up to the regional level.
‘The NCC sports facilities was a milestone project built by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in a record 18 months and was built in time for the Games,’ he said.
PHISGOC said it is prepared to address any specific allegation through the proper channels as and when it is formally raised, and to make its records available to any legitimate inquiry.