PH committee welcomes scrutiny of P2.08B Southeast Asian Games fund

MANILA – The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) welcomed scrutiny on the PHP2.08 billion fund for the country's hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

PHISGOC also released a certification from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) confirming that it has fully liquidated the amount.

PHISGOC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara said the organization's records have long been completed, submitted and independently examined, and that it stands ready to cooperate with any legitimate inquiry.

"The 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games was staged from November 30 to December 11, 2019, and although post-Games obligations and responsibilities were delayed by the pandemic, the PHISGOC, according to PSC chief accountant Erik Mayores, was fully liquidated in March 2022," Suzara said in a news release Wednesday.

The PSC certification, dated July 20, 2026 reads: "This is to certify that based on the records of the Accounting Division of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the PHISGOC Foundation has submitted all (100%) of the liquidation reports covering the financial assistance granted by the PSC in connection with the hosting of the 30th SEA Games amounting to PHP2.082 billion."

Suzara said all PHISGOC financial documents were audited by independent auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers / Isla Lipana & Co.

Beyond the paper trail, PHISGOC said the record of the hosting itself stands as the organization's strongest testament.

The Philippines finished as overall champion of the 2019 SEA Games with 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals — a total of 387 — making it the most successful SEA Games campaign in the country's history.

"It was a multi-agency, multi-department organization whose main purpose was for a successful hosting by the Philippines. We achieved this and the entire country rejoiced," Suzara said.

He also pointed to the New Clark City (NCC) facilities, which continue to benefit Filipino athletes and remain the country's only internationally certified athletics (World Athletics — certified Class 1) and aquatics (World Aquatics — formerly FINA) venues capable of hosting competitions up to the regional level.

"The NCC sports facilities were a milestone project built by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in a record 18 months and were built in time for the Games," Suzara said.

PHISGOC said it is prepared to address any specific allegation through the proper channels as and when it is formally raised, and to make its records available to any legitimate inquiry. (PNA) -Philippine News Agency