DAVAO City's hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is possible with President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) William Ramirez at the helm.
Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera Thursday said, "Dabawenyos will never be unfazed with the daunting task of hosting a huge event like the magnitude of the SEA Games. With the President and Chairman Butch around, no doubt it can materialize."
Doubts surfaced on the city's capability as the 20-hectare city sports complex at the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao is still being constructed and the 10-hectare University of Mindanao (UM) sports complex has just started ground works and may not make it in time for the bi-ennial Games.
Construction is also ongoing on the 75,000-seater King Dome of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ The Name Above Every Name of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Aportadera, during Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum on August 25 at The Annex events center of SM City Davao, said he learned from somebody at UP Mindanao that they are optimistic that the sports complex will be finished before 2019.
He also said that they look forward to the second inspection that will be conducted by the PSC technical team next week to assist in whatever his office can extend them.
Aportadera added that he will also make recommendations to Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio based on the evaluation of the PSC.
Ramirez said Tuesday during a Manila press conference that Manila has "better opportunity" to host the SEA Games as facilities are already existing and will just need rehabilitation and memorandum of agreements (MOAs) with private corporations and local government units (LGUs).
The PSC technical inspection team earlier said Davao del Norte, which is considered as co-host of Davao City, lacks three-star hotels to accommodate delegates of the SEA Games while Davao City has to finish the sports complex at UP Mindanao earlier than 2019, among other main considerations.
The UM sports complex can be a practice area for SEA Games athletes since it's a requirement that the host must provide a practice or warm-up venue with similar specifications as that of the competition venue.