The counterpart fund of the Bacolod City local government of P6 million for the preparations for the 23rd Southeast Asian Games will be released this week, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.

"The money is there for the taking", Leonardia, co-chairman of the Bacolod SEAG Organizing Committee, told the DAILY STAR.

Leonardia, however, said he will review the BaSoc letter of Sept. 22 that reports its compliance with the requirements of the SP Resolution No. 692, ratifying the memorandum of understanding entered into by the Philippine SEAG Organizing Committee and Bacolod City, before releasing the budget.

In its letter the BaSoc said it has complied with the requirements of the resolution, like the PhilSoc board resolution authorizing Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. to sign the MOU, and that each page of the MOU should bear the appropriately notarized original signature of Cojuangco.

The BaSoc is co-chaired by Rep. Monico Puentevella.

Sangguniang Panlungsod member Al Victor Espino, chairman of the Committee on Finance, authored the appropriation ordinance asking the SP to allot an additional P6 million budget for Bacolod City's preparations for the international event slated Nov. 20 to Dec. 5.

The city's counterpart fund will be used to spruce up the sporting facilities of the 16-day, 11-country conclave.

Events set in Bacolod City are men's football, centerpiece event of the biennial meet, beach volleyball, weightlifting, indoor volleyball and boxing. *CIT

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