TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte - No President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Senator Manny Pacquiao are coming but the biggest Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championships opens at 3 p.m. today at the sprawling Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex (DDNSTC) in Barangay Mankilam here as competition begins for different sports in separate venues in the morning.
Presidential Management Staff (PSM) Secretary Christopher "Bong" Go confirmed to Sun.Star Davao in a text message yesterday that President Duterte will not be attending the opening ceremonies.
Organizers, in a press conference at the DDNSTC clubhouse here yesterday, also confirmed that Senator Pacquiao will also not be making it due to his tight schedule.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, First District Representative of Davao del Norte, is keynote speaker.
Davao del Norte Governor Anthony del Rosario, however, said: "We will do our best to make this hosting the best Batang Pinoy ever as we prepared the best possible venues and the best billeting areas for the delegates."
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Celia Kiram, for her part, was elated by the huge turnout of participants, saying that from 700 delegates when it started, the Batang Pinoy has grown to as much as 14,000 although PSC planning head Dr. Lauro Domingo bared that a total of 13,774 delegates from 271 local government units (LGUs) have registered as of presstime.
Kiram said, "The Batang Pinoy is a grassroots development program of the PSC that caters to school-based and out-of-school youth athletes, giving equal opportunities for athletes in different parts of the country."
She said that top performers may be chosen to represent the country in the Children of Asia Games and Youth Olympic Games, urging national sports association (NSAs) to take care of the athletes and train them for international competitions.
Davao del Norte provincial sports coordinator Giovanni Gulanes, for his part, said security measures are in place with Task Force Tagum and Davao del Norte Philippine National Police personnel manning checkpoints, billeting areas, playing venues, major thoroughfares and public places.
A 10 p.m. curfew will also be implemented for minors although games will be held early mornings to late evenings, if necessary, to finish all scheduled events by December 2.
Del Rosario said they expect some delays due to bad weather.
Medical teams in billeting areas will also be stationed as well as in playing venues, according to Davao del Norte provincial health officer Dr. Agapito Hornido.
Ronnel Abrenica, senior executive assistant of PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, also bared that a BatangPinoy photo contest will be also be held with cash prizes at stake for the winners.
Meanwhile, Davao City's 520-member delegation arrived here safely after a 90-minute bus trip. Athletes, however, have to endure the long queue at the accreditation center at the Rodolfo del Rosario (RDR) Gym of the DDNSTC before they could settle themselves at the Magugpo Pilot Central Elementary School, their home during the Games.