Bacolod City officials yesterday assured that the budget released for the hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in Bacolod City will be accounted for.

The SP yesterday passed a resolution authorizing Councilor Homer Bais to look into the complaints of some delegates, players and coaches regarding transportation, hotel accommodation and other concerns connected with the SEAG, and to report to the SP the action taken by the Bacolod Southeast Asian Organizing Committee.

Bais said they had approved a budget of P10 million and have already released P9 million to BASOC. The city is still looking for sources for the remaining P1 million, he said.

He said that, based on the memorandum of agreement between the city and BASOC, the P10 million budget will be used to pay for the playing venues, the SEAG officials, the billeting areas of the players, and others.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday appealed to the public to help the BASOC resolve their problems. "There are no big events that have no problems so why don't we be more positive about our approach, anyway these are maters that can be resolved," he said, reacting to negative media reports about the SEAG hosting. "This is not a time wash our dirty linen in public," Leonardia said, saying we should instead tell our visitors that Bacolod is a place that they should visit.

He said "the SEAG is a golden opportunity, which could make or break us so let us promote our city rather than give our visitors a bad image of it."

Leonardia said there was never a pull-out by the Brunei delegation since their officials had communicated with BASOC last Nov. 15 that they are not coming to Bacolod.

"So let us stop self-flagellating and let us have a ceasefire for the sake of our city and the country, "Leonardia said.

The Department of Education has allowed public elementary and high school students in Bacolod City to leave at 4 p.m. yesterday so they could see the games, upon the request of Leonardia.

Leonardia said the city employees were also allowed to witness the football games at the Panaad Stadium yesterday while the department heads have been requested to come up with a skeleton force in their respective offices until 5 p.m.

Starting 3 p.m. yesterday the buses will ferry people to the Panaad Stadium when there are games held there, he said, adding that all the games of the Philippine team will be played at the Panaad.

Leonardia also assured that the security of the SEAG is the number one concern of the city, when asked for his reaction to reports that the New People's Army are out to liquidate some personalities in the city. "We are making security a top priority, not because Bacolod is not safe, but because we want to prevent anything from happening," he said.

Leonardia said this is the age of terrorism and if some people want to make a statement, this is where they can get attention. "We will continue to ask the public to be more patient and to cooperate if there are security measures being implemented," he said.*CGS

back to top