By Isabel C. De Leon

BUSAN, South Korea – The De­partment of Tourism (DOT) has started taking over the billeting of foreign athletes participating in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) following the initial logistical snafu that led to a number of complaints from the del­egates, particularly long hours at the hotel check-in counters, inadequate food, and transportation issues.

“We (DOT) are taking over as we speak,” an official confirmed.

The DOT has started coordinating with the participating hotels, par­ticularly on the setting up of express check-in lanes or fast lanes for the athletes and other members of their delegation.

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHIS­GOC) said the problems encountered during the check-in, which some claimed took hours, were due to a number of reasons, among them, the last-minute change in travel plans of the delegates and the afternoon check-in time of the hotel.

“We sincerely apologize to our athlete guests… for the inconvenience caused to them by the confusion,” the committee said in a statement. “We… vow to do better.”

Some of the athletes who have started arriving for the SEAG since last week were left stranded for hours at the airport or were driven to the wrong hotel.

Athletes have begun flying into Manila ahead of the SEAG opening on Saturday, November 30.

Cambodia’s and East Timor’s foot­ball teams complained that their arrival was not what they were expecting.

“We had to wait maybe like eight, nine hours to get to our hotel,” Coach Felix Dalmas of Cambodia told a press conference Sunday. He claimed that they also waited hours for the shuttle service.

Late on Sunday, one of the ho­tels hosting the athletes put out a statement that said one delegation arrived ahead of the 2 p.m. check-in time that had been agreed with the organizers.

Members of the country’s own women’s football squad reportedly were forced to wait at a function room of a hotel as their rooms were not available yet. They also complained about the quality and quantity of food, which they say “lack nutri­ents.”

Transportation and accommoda­tion woes also highlighted the arriv­als of teams from Cambodia, Timor Leste, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Cops on alert

As this developed, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not taking any chances as far as security for the SEA Games is concerned.

Effective Monday, November 25, police forces in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon were placed under highest security alert status as part of the security measures for the SEAG.

Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, said the full alert status took effect at 8 a.m. Monday and will last until December 14.

National Support Units like the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Special Action Force and Maritime Group were also placed under full alert. The HPG will deploy 101 motorcycle-riding cops and mobile units to secure roads and ease traffic.

“All police regional offices and national administrative units will be on heightened alert status,” said Banac.

Full alert means suspension of all leaves and dayoffs to ensure avail­ability of all police personnel while heightened alert mandates that at least 50 percent of policemen must be present and ready for deployment.

At least 27,000 policemen will be deployed in sports venues and billeting areas of athletes and other delegates for the SEA Games.

In Metro Manila where 19 games wouod be held, almost 16,000 cops will be deployed.

Several games will also be held in Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon).

Athletes and other delegates started arriving in the country as early as the weekend. (With a report from Aaron Recuenco)

READ MORE: PNP in Metro Manila, C. Luzon, Calabarzon placed on full alert for SEA Games