Thursday, August 05, 2004 Mindanao-North Sulawesi Games shelved By Jeff M. Tupas
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The much-anticipated Mindanao-North Sulawesi Friendship Games set to be hosted by the provincial government of North Cotabato may not push through as scheduled.
North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol announced the cancellation of the sports event this year as he would rather address the current problems of his province than proceed with its hosting the Friendship Games.
Piñol likewise cited the torrential rains that hit his place as the reason for his decision. The torrential rains, he said, are expected to continue until late September.
But most importantly, the governor said the present condition of some of the towns in his province made him change his mind.
At least three towns in North Cotabato--Alamada, Pigcawayan, and Pikit--have been affected by floods due to non-stop rains.
Last month, the town of Alamada was severely devastated by flashflood with damages set at millions of pesos.
"I think the people won't enjoy the Games because of the weather and I think I would appear as an insensitive leader if I will host the Games despite the difficulty suffered by some of my people," Piñol said.
The budget appropriated for the Friendship Games reached to P2.5-million.
It was supposed to be held here on the last week of Aug until the first week of September, in time for the province's 90th founding anniversary celebration.
But the governor said the Games might as well be pushed through during the summer months of next year.
The provincial government had already invited other major provinces and cities of Mindanao to participate in the Games.
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