MANILA, Philippines — The country’s hosting of the 2020 ASEAN Para Games will take a back seat for now due to lack of funds.

Instead of holding the 10th staging of the Games on Jan. 18-24 2020, the twin event of the biennial meet Southeast Asian Games will instead be held possibly in March 2020.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez bared the sad news Friday amidst the recent situation of the agency after spending most of its war chest to the national athletes that competed in the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“We received a memorandum asking us to fund the Asean ParaGames,” said Ramirez. “Concern is wala na kami na maibibigay pa sa paghohost natin ng Para Games because we spent most of our funds for the preparation, training and exposures of our national athletes,” added Ramirez.

Ramirez also informed PSC Commissioner Arnold Agustin, who is the commissioner in-charge of the Para athletes.

“Kulang na ang gagamitin na pondo para patakbuhin ang multi-sports na torneo para sa differently-abled athletes,” said Ramirez.

The agency had earlier allotted P100-million for the staging of the Games but half of the funds were spent in the preparation and training of the differently-abled athletes.

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), based on the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) policy, should be handling both the SEA Games and Asean Para Games but Ramirez said that a memorandum was given to the PSC to support the tournament.

“We will be asking again the government for funds to be used in the ASEAN ParaGames. Kung wala, posibleng hindi na matuloy, or mapostpone na naman to a later date, or makakuha tayo ng mga makakatulong para pondohan ang mga kasama nating mga differently-abled athletes,” sabi said Ramirez.

Meanwhile, Philippine Paralympic Committee President Michael Barredo on Friday confirmed the postponement of the 10th ASEAN Paragames from its original date of January 18 to 25 next year to March.

Over 2,500 athletes and team officials from 11 countries will see action when the Philippines plays host to the ASEAN Para Games 2020.

A total of 518 events will be disputed in 16 sports.

Among the sports to be played are archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, bowling, chess, cycling, 7-a-side CP Football, goalball, judo, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair volleyball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis.

A demonstration sports will be included that is the Obstacle racing.

(LO/IAMGO/CNS)