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Bayanihan for the 2019 SEA Games 'strong' as 20,000 volunteer

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) will have ample manpower support, thanks to at least 20,000 volunteer-applicants who heeded the call of the Philippine South East Asian Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) to be part of the Games.Since the Volunteers Program was launched last April, 36 institutions, mostly universities and colleges in Metro Manila, northern and central Luzon, have partnered with PHISGOC and committed more than 6,000 volunteers from their respective schools to join the sports event. Out of 20,686 who have expressed their interest to join the volunteers program, 14,683 applied through the official SEA Games volunteers’ online portals. They include 2,960 foreign applicants and 6,003 who were committed by their respective schools. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/15/19/sea-games-first-goal-build-sporting-legacy-first-make-money-later-says-official">READ: SEA Games’ first goal? Build sporting legacy first, make money later, says official</a></li></ul>Deputy Director for Volunteers Program and former PBA player Chris Tiu said the PHISGOC is grateful and overwhelmed by the resounding support from their online applicants, partner-institutions and foreign volunteers. “Based on our experience in the recruitment stage, we felt that the spirit of volunteerism and nationalism was really very strong. We hope to sustain them during and until the end of the games in December,” said Tiu. Tiu also said that they have finished the assessment of online applicants, as well as the training last month of trainers for Clark and Subic and Metro Manila. “During the interviews, there were applicants who came as far as Marawi and Cagayan and an OFW who came from Singapore. There were teachers, community workers, professionals and others who brought their entire family to sign up as volunteers,” Tiu said.With 56 sports with 530 events in this year’s SEA Games, the PHISGOC needs 9,000 volunteers to assist and support the different functional areas of the regional games.PHISGOC Chief Operating Officer Ramon Suzara said that for the Metro Manila events, they need 3,150 volunteers. Clark and Subic needs 2,250 and 1,980 support-workforce respectively, while the other clusters will require 1,620 volunteers.

"The spirit of volunteerism and nationalism was really very strong," says Chris Tiu, deputy director for the volunteers program.

"The spirit of volunteerism and nationalism was really very strong," says Chris Tiu, deputy director for the volunteers program.