Organisers of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games have suffered a blow after the Philippines Government approved a smaller budget than requested ©Getty Images

Organisers of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines has suffered a blow after the country’s Senate approved a budget of PHP2.5 billion (£37 million/$48 million/€42 million) less than was originally requested.

The Philippines Olympic Committee (POC) had put forward a proposed budget of PHP7.5 billion (£111 million/$143 million/€127 million), but instead the Government has approved a figure of PHP5 billion (£74 million/$95.5 million/€84.5million).

According to the South East Asian news website Rappler, the announcement has forced Games officials to seek more sponsorship from the prize sector in order to make up the difference for an event featuring the 11 countries of Southeast Asia.

The President of the POC Ricky Vargas had reportedly hoped the Senate would be encouraged to approve the full budget because of an executive order instructing Government agencies to assist with preparations, but that has not happened.

"We’ll remain focused, calm and careful, but determined to succeed," Butch Ramirez, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission tasked with handling funds for the Games, told Rappler. 

Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games right, said they would need a budget of
Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games right, said they would need a budget of "about P6 billion" about a million less than they have been given by the Governemnt ©Getty Images

Representatives from the Organising Committee met with the Government in an attempt to resolve the issue but instead received "no assurance" according to Ramirez, that the full budget would be met.

Former Foreign Secretary and chairman of the Organising Committee Alan Peter Cayetano told The Philippine Star they would need "about PHP6 billion (£89 million/$115 million/€101 million) to have international standard venues, security and broadcast facilities.

The Games are set to go ahead from November 30 to December 11 in Manilla and Cayetno insisted that, despite the budget setback, preparations are still on schedule.

Last year the POC put forward 56 sports for inclusion on the programme.