PSC exec director Iroy confirms PHISGOC only got PHP1.48B

A total of PHP6 billion was used for the SEA Games hosting last year, a quarter of it went to PHISGOC. Jade Moya (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Philippine Sports Commission acting executive director Guillermo Iroy confirmed on Thursday that the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee only received nearly a quarter of the total budget for the hosting of last year's SEA Games.

In a letter given to Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general Ed Gastanes, PHISGOC president Tats Suzara claimed that his organization only got a total of PHP1.48 billion from the PHP6 billion war chest for the SEA Games, something that Iroy affirmed in a statement.

“The disbursements were straight forward and paid for expenses they were allocated for,” explained Iroy.

According to Iroy, most of the PHP1.48 billion, PHP900 million in particular, went to "direct payments for accommodation, sports equipment, transportation, catering, allowances of technical officials, freight forwarding services, and other expenses."

Suzara added that the other PHP4.52 billion went to the Department of Budget Management Procurement Service.

Iroy said that POC used the remainder of the budget for "the purchase of most sports equipment coming from international and Asian federation accredited suppliers overseas."

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno_