CLARK HUB ABUZZ WITH SEAG PREP

World-class facilities are slowly taking shape at New Clark City in Pampanga, the main hub of the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the Philippines is hosting next year.

Royalties and dignitaries are among those expected to visit the country during the biennial event slated Nov. 30 to Dec. 10, 2019.

Clark will host the athletics and swimming events.

A site visit over the weekend, led by Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee chair and Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Cayetano, showed the construction is on schedule.

Cayetano was joined by members of the Committee on Sports in Congress, officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee led by president Ricky Vargas and the Philippine Sports Commission and Bases Conversion and Development Authority chief Vince Dizon.

“We’re impressed,” said Rep. Mikee Romero (1Pacman PartyList), who also witnessed the installation of composite columns inside the country’s newest sporting hub.

“Our dream of having stateof-the-art sports facilities is becoming a reality.”

The Philippines wound up sixth among 11 nations in the 2017 edition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with an output of 23 golds, 33 silvers and 64 bronze medals—the country’s worst finish in 18 years.

Athletics was the top medal producer with 18—5 golds, 3 silvers and 10 bronzes.