Thursday, July 26, 2007 PBGEA boosts RP's SEAG bid By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE Filipino athletes' campaign in the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand received a major boost after the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. (PBGEA) agreed to donate 120 cartons of fresh bananas weekly to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The donation was formalized during a signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the Jade Room of Marco Polo Tuesday night, which was attended by no less than PSC Chair William "Butch" Ramirez and his four commissioners and top officials of PBGEA.
Also present in a rare garthering of the country's top sports officials were PSC commissioners Jose Mundo, Leon Gonzalo "Binggoy" Montemayor, Ricardo Garcia and Ambrosio de Luna.
Representing PBGEA were its president Stephen Antig, Banana Exporters Industry Foundation, Inc. Wlliam Leh and PBGEA legal counsel Reynaldo Echavez.
"As important as the event is, we came in full force. We are very grateful for the support of PBGEA to our athletes," said Garcia, the Task Force SEA Games chair.
Ramirez said: "The complete attendance of the PSC board shows that this activity is not ordinary. Our collaboration with PBGEA is not small. This is really big. We value and cherish this collaboration because these bananas would make a big difference to the preparation and performance of our athletes in the SEA Games."
Antig said they were elated to see all commissioners and the chairman in Davao.
The banana industry is around and as long as we're producing bananas, you can be assured of our support when needed," Antig said.
Antig said they've been donating bananas for the national athletes for the past four years.
"This is certainly not the last. We're hoping that this small contribution will help the athletes' representation of our country to the Games," he said.
PBGEA will supply free bananas for the athletes starting first week of August until second week of December this year.
