Malacañang is urging the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to push for Davao City as host of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) although it doesn’t look like venues would be in place in three years time.
PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said a team will travel to Davao to make an ocuar inspection and assess the city’s capability to host a multi-sport international event.
Dennis Uy, the Presidential Adviser for Sports, met with Ramirez yesterday and told the PSC to determine if hosting could be possible.
A stadium inside the University of the Philippines is already being built but Ramirez doubts whether it could be done.
“The construction is in stages,” said Ramirez, who is batting for Manila as host instead as everything is already in place.
The idea of Davao City as host was conceived not by the PSC but the Philippine Olympic Committee but Ramirez insists Manila will be hard to beat as host owing to the facilities available.
Besides, Ramirez maintains that SEAG nations would rather attend the biennial sportsfest in one place to avoid logistical problems.
The last time in 2005, Manila was the main hub but other satellite cities include Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Tagaytay, Los Baños, Clark and Subic.
But the prospects of Davao City hosting the Seag brings a smile to Ramirez, who is a native son.
“Hosting could attract more investments,” said Ramirez.
Whether Davao City can take the place of Manila will be known within 30 days as commissioner Arnold Agustin has been assigned to conduct an inspection.
