SEAG blunders enrage Duterte
Published Nov 26, 2019 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte is reportedly enraged with the logistical lapses in the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo admitted that the President was dismayed with the apparent lack of preparedness by the organizers following reported complaints from the athletes about their transport and hotel accommodations. “‘Yung palpak na 'yun, hindi sana nangyari, kayang-kaya gawan ng paraan. Kaya nagagalit si Presidente ," Panelo said over government radio. He noted that the visiting athletes should have been escorted to another hotel if their original hotel was still unavailable upon their arrival. Organizers should have also readied alternative transportation in case the athletes' rides don't come on time, he added. The President has arrived in Manila Tuesday night after attending a regional summit in South Korea. The controversial logistical woes in the SEA Games’ erupted while he was abroad. The Office of the President has already offered an apology for the sorry experience which confronted the athletes ahead of the competition. "Incidents of delays in transport and checking-in at hotels happen in international sports and games by reason of the number of countries and athletes involved. We can no longer undo what has been done,” Panelo said in a recent statement. "The Office of the President will not offer any excuses. As host country, we apologize for the unintentional inconvenience suffered by our athlete-guests,” he added. He said the organizing committee has promised to do better in ensuring proper coordination from the arrival of the athletes to their transportation and hotel accommodations. The regional sports tournament hit a snag after football teams from the three countries reportedly encountered problem with transport and hotel arrangements. Others have also reported complaints about the insufficient food and water provision in the hotel. On the kikiam reportedly served to athletes, Panelo agreed that this food was not sufficient for the athletes. He said kikiam is usually eaten when a person has nothing else to eat.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo(OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo admitted that the President was dismayed with the apparent lack of preparedness by the organizers following reported complaints from the athletes about their transport and hotel accommodations. “‘Yung palpak na 'yun, hindi sana nangyari, kayang-kaya gawan ng paraan. Kaya nagagalit si Presidente ," Panelo said over government radio. He noted that the visiting athletes should have been escorted to another hotel if their original hotel was still unavailable upon their arrival. Organizers should have also readied alternative transportation in case the athletes' rides don't come on time, he added. The President has arrived in Manila Tuesday night after attending a regional summit in South Korea. The controversial logistical woes in the SEA Games’ erupted while he was abroad. The Office of the President has already offered an apology for the sorry experience which confronted the athletes ahead of the competition. "Incidents of delays in transport and checking-in at hotels happen in international sports and games by reason of the number of countries and athletes involved. We can no longer undo what has been done,” Panelo said in a recent statement. "The Office of the President will not offer any excuses. As host country, we apologize for the unintentional inconvenience suffered by our athlete-guests,” he added. He said the organizing committee has promised to do better in ensuring proper coordination from the arrival of the athletes to their transportation and hotel accommodations. The regional sports tournament hit a snag after football teams from the three countries reportedly encountered problem with transport and hotel arrangements. Others have also reported complaints about the insufficient food and water provision in the hotel. On the kikiam reportedly served to athletes, Panelo agreed that this food was not sufficient for the athletes. He said kikiam is usually eaten when a person has nothing else to eat.