MANILA -- Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio assured Filipino athletes of support as they prepare to compete in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this month.
The Philippines is sending its biggest delegation in the history of its participation in the biennial showcase, with some 1,600 athletes expected to represent the country from December 9-20.
"Bakit? Para mabigyan ng exposure lahat ng atleta, para magkaroon ng mas maraming medalya," Gregorio said during Team Philippines' send-off last week. "Pero kung ako ang tatanungin niyo, 'yung exposure, 'yan ang investment natin so they can compete better pagdating ng Asian Games, pagdating ng Olympics."
"When you send a big delegation, they get the exposure, they get the confidence. Yun ang tinaya natin," he also said. "Dapat lang ipalaban natin nang ipalaban. We give them all the international exposure so they become better athletes."
The athletes are backed not just by the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee but the whole of the government, Gregorio stressed.
"Alam nila na talagang suportado ito ng gobyerno, suportado po ito ng Pangulo, suportado ito ni First Lady, suportado ng POC at PSC," he said.
READ: PSC chair vows full support for PH's biggest delegation yet for SEA Games
He also assured that Filipino athletes who are already in Thailand are safe amid the floods that inundated the country in recent days.
Eleven sports have already been moved to Bangkok because of the severe flooding. Among the most affected areas is Songkhla, one of the planned hosts of the regional sports extravaganza.
Among the sports being moved are men's football, chess, judo, karate and wrestling.
"All athletes are taken care of, they will transfer to Bangkok," said Gregorio.
READ: SEA Games moves 11 sports because of deadly Thailand floods
READ: Cambodia pulls out of 8 sports at SEA Games over 'safety'
As for the country's target, Gregorio remained realistic.
"Hopefully better than the last one in Cambodia," he said. "Alam naman p natin na ang Southeast Asian Games, you design that to favor the host, so we'll just have to make sure that we compete properly and get that much needed exposure."
POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino earlier said that he hoped Team Philippines can maintain its fifth place standing from the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.