All set for Pinoy Nat’l Games; 36 events to be contested

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

IT’S all systems go for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) – Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Philippine National Games (P-Noy National Games) as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by chairman Ricardo ‘Richie’ Garcia, Gov. Alfredo Marañon and the mayors of the four partner-local government units (LGUs) signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) yesterday at the New Government Center in Bacolod City.

Aside from Garcia, other PSC officials joining in the MOA signing were Commissioners Joaquin ‘Chito’ Loyzaga and Jose Luis ‘Jolly’ Gomez. Affixing their signatures for their respective cities were Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Bago Mayor Ramon Torres, Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano and Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan.

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Also present during the undertaking were Bacolod Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilors Al Victor Espino and Dindo Ramos, and Provincial Sports Coordinator and Executive Assistant Angel Verdeflor.

Meanwhile, in a press conference held after the MOA signing, PSC chairman Garcia stressed that Negros Occidental was chosen as the venue because the province and the City of Bacolod has proven time and again that it can successfully host national and even international events without any problem at all.

Garcia also clarified that the events can be witnessed not only within the four co-host cities but also in other towns and cities, considering that the 120 kilometers cycling event will start from Kabankalan while the marathon will begin from Manapla town.

PSC Comm. Gomez explained that this weeklong event will be open to all Filipinos, whether playing in the Philippines or abroad. He also clarified that since this event will be participated by some national team players, it will serve as a venue to scout new talents to don the national colors, particularly for the Asian Games and the Olympics.

Gomez also said that those players who will have convincing performances will earn a slot in the national pool.

As far as the budget is concerned, Garcia disclosed that P30 million will be spent for this weeklong event to be participated by around 8,500 athletes from 17 regions across the country, including the national team mainstays.

A total of thirty-six events will be contested during the games. The events which will be played in Bacolod City are 5K and 10K marathon, athletics, badminton, beach volleyball, billiards, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, judo, karatedo, lawn tennis, motorcycle sports, sailing, soft tennis, swimming, taekwondo, volleyball, wall climbing, weightlifting, wind surfing and wrestling.

Bago City will host canoe kayak, dragon boat, muay thai and wushu. Baseball, road cycling, futsal, football, penkak silat, softball and table tennis will be played in Talisay while Silay City will host archery, arnis, sepak takraw and triathlon.

However, Gomez said that baseball might be transferred to Silay, since it requires a wider playing area.

On the other hand, some crowd-drawing events like basketball, boxing, dancesports, chess, golf and shooting were not included after their National Sports Associations (NSA) disclosed that they have already set their respective calendars for this year. However, these NSAs promised to take part in the annual event next year, said Gomez.