Malacañang has pledged financial aid for the country’s participation in the Southeast Asian Games and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is now trying to determine how much more is needed for the campaign.

PSC Chairman Richie Garcia said on Thursday that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa has guaranteed the Palace’s commitment to financially help the sports agency for the SEA Games bid.

“Sabi naman ng Malacañang they are still there to help,” said Garcia in a radio interview.  “Until we know the exact figure, mahihirapan tayong humingi ng tulong. Kulang ba ng P5 million or 10 million to augment sa gagastusin natin sa delegation? Kailangan ma-clarify muna natin ’yan bago tayo lumapit ulit sa kanila.”

Garcia said he is hoping they would, by Friday, have an idea of how much is still needed for the country’s participation in the biennial meet set from November 11 to 22.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has set an October 20 deadline for the PSC to secure the funding for the 534 athletes who will compete in the 11-nation games, although based on the allocated budget, only 424 could be funded by the PSC.

The sports agency has allocated P30 million for the games, but Garcia said the allocation is not enough and that Malacañang and the private sector are needed to cover the deficiency.

“We could not accommodate all the athletes kahit qualified sila kaya sana makahanap sila ng private sponsor by October 20,” said Garcia. “And we in the PSC are also helping them to look for funding.”

Those who have already secured private funding are athletes from softball, baseball, futsal (men and women teams), bridge, sports climbing, fencing, judo, badminton, athletics, gymnastics, golf and cycling. Joel Orellana

But athletes in baseball, men’s softball, sports climbing, bridge and futsal have yet to tap private sponsors.

Garcia the PSC will be spending around P70,000 to P80,000 for each athlete in the SEA Games aside from the $300 allowance.