Palace wants Davao ’19 SEAG main hub
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez yesterday stressed that Davao City and Davao del Norte remain as prime candidates as venues of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games despite the planned Olympic City construction in Clark.
Ramirez made the clarification after meeting with Presidential Adviser on Sports Dennis Uy, who batted for Davao’s staging of the SEAG.
“He (Uy) really wanted to push through with the hosting of the 2019 SEAG in Davao. That’s why I’m sending a technical team again to Davao to re-assess the capability of the facilities there to host the games,” Ramirez said in a press briefing.
Davao has been suggested as possible site by Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco and Ramirez’s technical people have identified University of the Philippines- Mindanao, Davao del Norte, University of Mindanao, Ateneo de Davao, University of Eastern Philippines, the KJC King Dome, and SM and other facilities – most of which are currently undergoing construction or rehab – as potential hubs.
“While we have a plan to put up the national training center or Olympic Village in Clark Green City, we’re still focused on Davao for 2019,” said Ramirez.
The Davaoeño sports exec said they set up a meeting with Gov. Anthony del Rosario, the administrator of Davao City, the sports director of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s stadium and the leadership of UP Mindanao, University of Mindanao, USEP, SM and other stakeholders.
“From there, we’ll see if they’re short of things, then we’ll discuss with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on how the PSC can help augment construction/finishing of some of the facilities,” he said.