PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SENATOR CHRISTOPHER "BONG" GO
Re: 2019 SEA Games
25 November 2019

Mr. President, my dear colleagues, I rise today on a matter of personal privilege. Also, I will not yield the floor for interpellations and questions as it will just distract the Senate from doing its mandate.

There have been news reports on apparent inefficiencies that have been hounding our hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. These have caused our Southeast Asian brothers from Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Thailand inconveniences which they must not have experienced so close to the start of the Games. Some of the alleged problems consist of transportation, accommodation, and travel issues.

Meanwhile, our very own women's football team has expressed frustration over logistical issues. Ang sabi nila dati ay almost ready and complete na ang preparation, venues, and everything that will be used for the games.

As of October 30, 2019, PHISGOC stated that preparations are 90% complete.

Bakit nangyari ang mga ganito?

Hindi apology ang kailangan natin ngayon. Hindi ito madadaan sa apology lamang. Ang kailangan ay GISINGIN LAHAT. Huwag papatay patay.

Anim na araw na lang po at opening na ng Southeast Asian Games at may ilang laro na nagsimula na. May ilang bisita at manglalaro na ang nagsisidatingan. Kaya dapat maayos na ito.

Noong naghahanda tayo for Southeast Asian Games, may kanya-kanyang mandato ang gobyerno. Ang Office of the President, Senate, at Congress, nagbigay ng lahat na kakailanganing pondo at suporta para sa hosting kung kaya WALANG RASON para sabihin na hindi tayo handa.

At kahit na may iba-ibang responsibilidad na nakatoka sa PHISGOC, sa PSC, at sa POC, hindi ibig sabihin nito na wala na tayong pakialam sa isa't isa. Huwag tayo magkanya-kanya.

The PSC, along with the DBM - Procurement Service, is the main implementor of the funding and public procurement aspect of the Games. On the other hand, PHISGOC is primarily responsible for the planning and actual preparations, organization, management and execution of the hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games; while the POC takes charge of running the technical aspects of all sporting events. To all the parties, tandaan niyo: ANG KAPALPAKAN NG ISA AY KAPALPAKAN NATING LAHAT. Let me remind everyone that you will be ANSWERABLE TO THE PRESIDENT AND MOST ESPECIALLY TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

Kaya sobrang nakakalungkot po na sa mga panahong ito, may ilan sa mga kababayan natin na pumapalakpak sa maling rason--PUMAPALAKPAK DAHIL GUSTO NILA TAYONG PUMALPAK.

Ganitong pag-uugali ba ang gusto nating ipakita sa ating mga bisita at karatig bayan? Ganitong pag-uugali ba ang gusto nating ipamana sa ating mga kabataan?

Hindi po dapat ganyan ang maging attitude natin ngayon. Magtulungan po tayo bilang suporta sa bawat Pilipinong manlalaro at para magtagumpay ang hosting natin ng Southeast Asian Games.

Mataas ang expectation ng buong mundo sa atin bilang host ng Southeast Asian Games. The reputation of the country is at stake. Hindi ito burden ng isang grupo lamang, hindi lang ang gobyerno, hindi lang ang PSC o POC o PHISGOC, bilang Pilipino, lahat tayo host dito sa Southeast Asian Games kung kaya't ito ang oras na dapat MAGTULUNGAN, HINDI MAGSISIHAN.

Ngayon, dapat naka-focus po tayo dito. Target natin na manalo ang ating mga atleta pero bigyan din natin ng importansya na maalagaan at maipamahagi sa ating mga bisita ang kagandahan ng ating bansa at ang warm hospitality nating mga Pilipino.

Mr. President, gaya po ng sinabi ko nitong nakaraang linggo, hindi lamang po medalya at karangalan ng ating mga atleta ang nakasalalay sa darating na Southeast Asian Games. ANG REPUTASYON AT PANGALAN DIN NG ATING BANSA ANG NAKATAYA DITO.

I am therefore delivering this privilege speech to urge PSC, POC, PHISGOC and all Filipinos--HUWAG PO NATING HAYAAN NA PUMALPAK ITO.

There is a right time for everything. Huwag tayong magturuan ngayon. But after the games, papanagutin natin ang dapat na managot.

As the Chair of the Committee on Sports and a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee, handa po tayo na mag-imbestiga sa mga kapalpakan na mangyayari sa hosting natin sa Southeast Asian Games. Pero sa ngayon, LET US WORK AS ONE IN ORDER TO WIN AS ONE.

To all our hard-working athletes, coaches, delegates, and all those who have sacrificed much to bring glory to our nation, we are all behind you. The government and all its resources are all behind you.

We wish you nothing but the best, and we will cheer hard for every victory, every defeat, every sacrifice made, for the glory of our people. We win as one.

Thank you, Mr. President.