Sunday, December 24, 2006 PSC to pay POC’s Seag debts By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Correspondent
THE long-forgotten Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (CebuSOC) received come good news before the current year ends.
This after Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez promised to finally settle Philippine Olympic Committee’s (POC) year-old P1.8 million obligation to CebuSOC for the co-hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games late last year.
Ramirez talked to Cheryl Ouano, one of CebuSOC’s heads, last week and promised to pay up by January 2007 when all accounts are settled. PSC made this promise in behalf of POC, after the latter suffered budget shortages and failed to pay its dues.
“He called me up and we are hoping that this will push through because we have settled all our obligations, like liquidations, a long time ago,” said Ouano, the head of the Mandaue City Sports Commission.
The news, however, came as a surprise to CebuSOC chairman Jonathan Guardo,
“Really? I have actually forgotten about it. It is a year overdue,” Guardo said.
Guardo added that it would be best if he be shown the money first before actually believing in it.
Allocation
“Show me the money first. When it comes to government allocation, it takes a long time for it to be released,” Guardo said.
The P1.8 million will cover CebuSOC’s liabilities for the hotel accommodation of some of the delegates, for the catering and to Guardo, who shouldered some of the obligations, just so the SEA Games will go on without glitches.
Cebu hosted five events—mountainbike, dancesport, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw and pencak silat—distributed among Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Danao.
