THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) claimed it has raised around 75 percent of the funds needed for the athletes it added to the delegation to the Laos Southeast Asian Games.

That means all 94 “additional” athletes are assured of participating in the Games in December, because there is more than a month to raise more funds from private sponsors, according to POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta.

“Cong. Peping [POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr.] promised that they will all be going to Laos,” Romasanta told Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Shakey’s United Nations Avenue.

“Matutuloy sila. He [Cojuangco] is very confident that he will have the funds,” he added during the forum, backed by Accel, Outlast Battery and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The POC approved a delegation of 247 athletes, more than the 153-player delegation that will be funded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The POC needs at least P5 million for the additional athletes.

“Committed na tayo d’yan so siguradong ma-popondahan na ’yang mga athletes na ’yan,” said Romasanta.

While the PSC drafted a list of gold and silver medalists, the POC is reportedly giving slots to young bets who could be representatives of the country in future international meets.

“There should be a steady stream of athletes [coming from the youth ranks],” said Romasanta. “It should be an assembly line. We should generate as much interest in the youth in some sports.”

Chief of mission Mario Tanchangco said the Laos organizers are giving the Philippines until Wednesday to send the Philippine roster.

“They are just waiting for our lineup so they can make the pairings for the events,” Tanchangco said.

“We have to make sure that all we send to Laos are justified,” said athletics chief Go Teng Kok. “We really scrutinized the list, that’s why it took us so long to submit the lineup.”

Romasanta said they have yet to select a flag-bearer for the Games, although swimmer Miguel Molina, the Top Male Athlete in the 2007 SEA Games, appeared as the “logical choice.”

Molina was supposed to carry the country’s flag in the Beijing Olympics last year, but was dislodged by professional boxer Manny Pacquiao.