DESPITE the backing out of Davao City due to Typhoon “Ompong” (Mankhut), the Batang Pinoy national finals will push through.

Baguio City sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales said although he was saddened by the pullout of Davao City, he remains optimistic other local government units will go on with their scheduled trip for the weeklong sports event.

“We are continuously monitoring the typhoon and at the same time we have been ushering our participants to their quarters. Hopefully all delegates would make it by Saturday,” said Gonzales.

Davao City delegates cancelled their trip by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio due to bad weather.

“This is to ensure that the delegates will not be caught stranded in bad weather. We cannot compromise on the safety of the children, coaches, and support staff,” Duterte said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

As of Friday morning, Typhoon Ompong was located at 540 km East of Baler, Aurora with a maximum winds of 205 kilometer per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph.

Gonzales said delegates from Antique, Dasmarinas, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, Camarines Sur, Pangasinan, Cabuyao, Iloilo, Leyte, Cebu, Koronadal City and Kiamba in Sarangani province have arrived in the city.

The Philippine Sports Commission and the City Government of Baguio earlier decided to move the opening of the games to September 17 instead of September 16 due to the expected onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

Instead of an opening program, a grand closing program will instead be prepared.

PSC and city officials remain optimistic that the weather condition in Baguio and Benguet starting on September 17, 2018 will significantly improve after the weather disturbance will exit the Philippine area of responsibility to allow the public to witness the conduct of the various games lined up for the week-long sports competition.

PSC officials committed to help the delegations from Visayas and Mindanao who have previously booked their return trips to justify the rebooking of their trips back to their places of origin after the decision to move back the games was reached.

Some 7,000 athletes and sports officials are expected to arrive in the city this week to participate in the 28 events lined up for the competition wherein 22 games will be played in the sports venues around the city while the six sports events will be played in sports facilities in La Trinidad, Benguet. (Roderick Osis)