Batang Pinoy games almost cancelled
BAGUIO CITY -- The show must go on.
This, as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) gave the green light to push through as planned the staging of the 2017-2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships amid the devastation wrought by Typhoon Ompong here on September 15.
PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez had considered cancelling the national games on Sunday morning, September 16, right after the 8 a.m. offertory mass held at Philsport Arena.
Ramirez received reports that the safe bridge going to the host city was blocked by a landslide and he was consulting Mayor Mauricio Domogan and the MalacaƱang about it.
He even said that there were already 3,000 athletes, including head delegations and coaches that have arrived at that time.
It took Ramirez two hours to get a census and finally made the go signal after getting assurance of safe passage to Baguio.
In fact, the PSC billeted the delegations from Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Tagum City and Davao del Norte inside the Philsport Complex in Pasig City, few days before the typhoon made a landfall in northern Luzon.
With the development, the five delegations arrived safe and sound here for the games.
The typhoon has caused floods and landslides and reportedly killed at least six persons.