Siniguro ng Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) na matatapos na ang kanilang financial report para sa 30th SEA Games.
Sagot ito ng PHISGOC matapos na hingin na ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ang nasabing dokumento noong nakalipas na linggo.
Nilinaw din ni PHISGOC president and COO Ramon Suzara na mula sa P6-bilyong pondo na ibinuhos ng pamahalaan para sa SEA Games, nakatanggap lamang daw ng P1.481-bilyon ang kanilang organisasyon bilang tulong pinansyal mula sa Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“We clarify that out of the total P6-billion Philippine government budget for the 30th SEA Games under GAA2019, the PSC has only provided the amount of P1.481 billion as financial support to the Organizing Committee,” saad ni Suzara sa liham kay POC secretary-general Atty. Edwin Gastanes.
Nakatanggap din sina PHISGOC chairman at House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, at POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino ng kopya ng naturang sulat.
Ayon pa kay Suzara, noon lamang Setyembre 4 nang nakumpleto ng PSC ang pag-remit ng naturang halaga sa PHISGOC.
Ang natitirang pondo ng SEA Games, na nagkakahalaga ng P4.52-bilyon, ay ipinadala sa Department of Budget and Management Procurement Service, habang ang bahagi nito ay ni-remit sa POC, o ginamit ng PSC para sa equipment at serbisyong ginamit para sa biennial meet.
Una rito, ibinulgar nina POC board member Clint Aranas ng World Archery Philippines at athletics chief Philip Ella Juico ang kanilang intensyon na maghain ng reklamo laban sa ilang mga POC officials, kabilang na si Tolentino, dahil sa umano’y kabiguan ng PHISGOC na maglaan ng financial statement sa mga ginastos noong SEA Games.
Kamakailan din nang maghain ng mosyon si Juico sa POC board na hinihimok ang PHISGOC na ihain na ang kailang report, na pinagtibay naman ng lupon.
“Everybody must comply with the agreement, including the PHISGOC submitting periodic progress reports before, during and after the SEA Games. This includes finance, which was never done. This is being carried over too far into the future,” ayon kay Juico.
Dagdag naman ni Aranas, binigyan na raw ng sapat na oras ang PHISGOC para kumpletuhin ang kanilang financial report.
“Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been nine months since the SEA Games was finished,” pagdidiin nito.
Pero buwelta ni Suzara, “premature” daw ang pahayag nina Aranas at Juico.
“We would appreciate receiving POC’s letter first, rather than hearing about their stunt in the media intended to undermine PHISGOC,” giit ni Suzara. “Kindly remind them that the POC and PSC are integral parts of PHISGOC, and their actions unnecessarily cast aspersions on the integrity of all these institutions.”
“At any rate, rest assured that PHISGOC has already substantially liquidated said financial support received from PSC,” dagdag nito. “To date, we are nearing completion of our submitted liquidation reports to PSC covering said financial support received by the Organizing Committee.”
“Upon full submission of our liquidation reports to PSC, our external auditors shall be able to finally conclude PHISGOC’s audited financial statement covering all funds received and used for the 30th SEA Games,” ani Suzara. “We shall finish our relevant financial and operational reports in the coming weeks, and submit the same to the PSC copy furnished POC in due course.”
