MANILA, 15 March — The race for the hosting rights for the Southeast Asian Games in 2005 between the two front-runners — Manila and Bacolod — is heating up, so does the tug-of-war between politicians in their one common goal: to win it big for their hometurfs.
The main protagonists are, on the left corner, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza; and, on the right corner, Bacolod City Representative Monico Puentevella.
Atienza is carrying the cudgels for Manila’s bid. The country’s capital city is enjoying a slight edge over Bacolod, among other aspirants, since it has already played host to the biennial meet twice, in 1981 and 1991.
In a recent sports forum, Atienza personally made the pitch in behalf of the city to host the Games, insisting that Manila should be the focal point when the country gets to host the 10-nation tournament anew after 14 years.
Atienza believes that efficiency, cost-saving and being the center of activities in the Philippines make Manila the logical choice as focal point of the Games.
“The opening and closing, and the major spectator events should be held in the capital. I doubt if other provinces are capable of hosting it better than us (Manila), the way it should, and the way Manila is capable of,” said Atienza.
It would be a “big mistake” therefore, according to Atienza, if the biennial meet will not be held in Manila.
“We would like to establish that Manila is very much interested to host the event. Being the center of everything, Manila means like the Philippines and the Philippines means like Manila,” he said. “It would be a big mistake if the SEA Games won’t be held here.”
But Puentevella, a former Philippine Sports commissioner who now heads the House committee on youth and sports, chided Atienza for “belittling” the capabilities of the nation capital’s rivals, saying
“He (Atienza) should not underestimate the capabilities of other provinces which are bidding to host the games. We are as capable as them (Manila),” Puentevella responded.
Puentevella cautioned Atienza from issuing snide remarks to rival bidders.
“He should be sensitive enough not to make other bidders look bad, anyway the whole country would benefit once we host the SEA Games,” he said.
According to Puentevella, Bacolod and its allies in the bid, Negros Occidental and Iloilo, are willing to set aside 2 billion pesos to refurbish the facilities in the Panaad Sports Complex (RMSC) and other venues for the games.
“We’ll spend more than you can,” he said. “What I would like to compare is how much they (Manila) will spend to refurbish the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and how much we will spend for our sports complex in Bacolod.”
Manila is willing to shell out 1 billion pesos to spruce up the age-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex where the two editions of the games were held.
It stepped up its campaign by formally announcing its bid. “Manila is most interested to host the SEA Games, if not the whole, at least the major spectator events so we may help the national effort in promoting not only sports but the country as well,” said Atienza, stressing that there’s nothing like the country’s capital city hosting the Games three years from now.
Atienza, who is busy preparing the Manila Youth Games set April 7-14 with his son Ali, said government could save more if it stages the Games in the capital rather than elsewhere.
The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, he said, only needs refurbishing and improvement to meet international standard.
“Here in Manila, we have the sports complex, facilities which are already in place and all we have to do is improve them. It is better if the Games is held in Manila because it’s economical, and surely we can save a big amount of money. Unlike in Pampanga or Bacolod where they have to start from scratch,” he said.
Pampanga is said to be setting aside 3 billion pesos and Bacolod, 2 billion pesos for their respective bids.
According to Atienza, if it would be Manila, only 1 billion pesos would be needed to stage the Games. And with little time left and the substantial funds needed by other aspiring provinces to host the meet, holding the affair in Manila would be the most reasonable thing to do, he reasoned out.
“I’m sure it will be much less than these figures,” Atienza said, referring to the 3 billion pesos and 2 billion pesos funds Pampanga and Bacolod, respectively, hope to raise.
“We already have the hotels, infrastructure, and in the case of the facilities, all we need is to refurbish them,” Atienza explained.
There was a suggestion from Pampanga provincial board member Yeng Guiao for the national government to just sell the RMSC and use the money from that sale to build a state-of-the-art stadium either in Clark or at the Reclamation area but Atienza bluntly turned it down.
Atienza found it rather amusing earlier reports that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is planning to sell the 68-year old structure.
“RMSC is a titled property of Manila that was given to the PSC for sports development of the nation by a decree. And I’m sure that under the decree, it will only have to be used for sports development. Of course, the law and the city of Manila won’t allow the RMSC to be sold,” said Atienza. “If the sports complex would be transferred to PSC, we will welcome it because the sports facilities of Rizal will revert back to the city of Manila. We can use them for our sports programs.”
Manila, however, has yet to formalize its bid and plans to submit a letter of intent to the POC, the PSC and Malacanang.
Aside from Bacolod and Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, Naga and Mindanao are vying to host the Games.
The Cebu City government, headed by Mayor Tommy Osmena, has expressed full support to the city’s bid. The Queen City of the South said it could easily hold 10 to 15 sports events for the Games.
