MANILA, Philippines — Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said on Wednesday, 27 November 2019, that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is just doing its job in providing venues to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“Ito kasing Rizal Memorial Sports Complex at saka iyong ULTRA originally, hindi naman kasama iyan sa venues for the SEA Games,” Fernandez said. “But suddenly naging kasama.”

The PSC has been criticized on issues of unfinished venues days before the opening ceremony of regional biennial meet.

It was learned the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation has provided the PSC with P844 million to develop and refurbish facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila and at ULTRA in Pasig City.

Gymnastics will be held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, taekwondo and weightlifting will be held at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

While football will be held at Rizal Memorial Football Field and at the ULTRA (Philsports Arena).

“Iyong mga venues na napili ng Phisgoc (Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee) ay hindi naman pumasa sa international standards at sa mga international federations,” said Fernandez.

“Tamang-tama naman na nabigyan ng tulong ng PAGCOR ang PSC noong August ng P844 million, kaya minabuti naming ipaayos lahat iyan,” added by the former four-time PBA MVP awardee.

PSC chairman and Chef De Mission William “Butch” Ramirez has previously said that the venues will not only be used for the 2019 SEA Games but also for future international and local competitions. (Lloyd Tagbago/IAMIGO/CNS)