PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey Tuesday, December 27, said 2017 will be a busier year for sports in Davao City as some major programs of the country's sports agency will be held in the city.
Maxey, talking to sportswriters at Yellow Fin restaurant along F. Torres Street, said: “Mas busy ta next year kay i-revive namo ang Children's Games og ang Mindanao Friendship Games (We will be busier next year since we will revive the Children's Games and the Mindanao Friendship Games).”
The former SunStar Davao editor said PSC Chairman William Ramirez advised him to take it one step at a time. Thus, he said instead of holding a Mindanao Children's Games (MCG), it will be Davao Children's Games.
“Nag-istorya naming Mikey, interesado sab sya nga diri na himuon (I've talked to Mikey and he's interested to hold the games here),” Maxey said, pertaining to Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera.
Both were together in Indonesia recently during the 9th Bimp-Eaga Friendship Games where Maxey was the chef de mission of the Philippine delegation while Aportadera was head of the Davao City contingent.
Maxey said a city-wide Children's Games will serve as a pilot test for staging an MCG that was once staged in Davao City several years ago.
The Mindanao Friendship Games was first launched in Tubod, Lanao del Norte in 2001. It was then followed in Cagayan de Oro City in 2002 and in Mati, Davao Oriental in 2003.
Maxey said reviving these Games will be beneficial to Dabawenyos and Mindanaoans alike.
When Maxey first took on his position, he said he would want to put more focus and attention to Mindanao that has long been neglected and devoid of opportunities from the past administrations.
He added his office will also support the Tribal Games of the city in August during the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.