MANILA, Philippines -- Developers assured that facilities at the New Clark City will be ready in time for the Philippines' hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year.

With nine months to go before the biennial meet -- scheduled for November 30 to December 11 -- infrastructure developer MTD Philippines and its project partner, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), said construction of the complex is now halfway done, or about 53% completed.

Both vowed to finish the construction by August, or three months before the regional meet.

"Internally sa amin August 31 for everything, including the athletes’ housing and government residences. And our deliverable natin sa BCDA at October 30, so may safety net na two months," said MTD Philippines project director Rear Adm. Miguel Rodriguez

The MTD officer was with Arrey Perez, BCDA vice president for business development and deputy director general of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), during the special Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum held at Mimosa, Clark on Tuesday to give updates on the construction of the modern sports complex that will served as the main hub of the SEA Games.

The 20,000-seater athletics stadium would be over by June or July at the latest, according to David, while the others will be finished even earlier.

The new sports facilities are part of Phase 1A of the New Clark City Government Administrative Center (NGAC). It includes the track and field stadium, the 2,000-seater aquatics center, and an Athletes’ Village, while being surrounded by a 1.4-kilometer river park development with bikeways and jogging paths.

"Noong una parang drawing lang, pero ngayon ayan na, kitang-kita mo na, may katawan na," said David during the session hosted by the BCDA.

"We’re very confident na matatapos ito and deliver a world-class facility for the Filipino people."

Perez assured the country will be well prepared to host the SEA Games, which was last staged in the Philippines in 2005.

“Sigurado 'yan na makakapag-host po tayo ng SEA Games,” said the PHISGOC officer.

“Our vision to have a sports city at the New Clark City kasi napakalaki po niyan,” he added. “Ang gusto naming tumulong for the rebirth of Philippine sports.”

He also mentioned the role of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as a major partner in developing and maintaining the sports facilities being constructed by the BCDA located in Capas and Bamban, Tarlac.

There are 56 sports to be played by nearly 10,000 athletes from 11 countries. The 11 countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

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