AMID the declaration of martial law by President Rodrigo Duterte following the clashes between government troops and the Maute Group in Marawi City, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is bent to push for the Sports for Peace program in Mindanao as the Summer Children's Games 2017, a component of the program, kicks off at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, in a media interview at the sidelines of the Barangay Sports Education Forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel Wednesday afternoon, said: "In the midst of global and national terrorism, the more I want to focus on sports for peace activities. I know it can be dangerous but then again we will always be guided by local and police leadership."
He said that the Sports for Peace Program of the PSC is part of the mandate of the President to make sports accessible to all Filipinos.
The Summer Children's Games, which he claimed as his "baby", will be participated by some 1,000 out-of-school youth, children in conflict with the law (CICL) and public elementary school students aged 10 to 12 years old from 30 barangays. They will see action in boys 3-on-3 basketball, girls’ volleyball and Larong Pinoy. A storytelling on sports for peace will also highlight the three-day program.
"We want to show the world that peacekeeping starts with the children that the children of Davao are involved in peacekeeping activity through sports as Christians, Muslims and Lumads play together. Sports for Peace program is the very soul of PSC's programs," the PSC chief, said, adding that they will continue to consult the local leadership here. If Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio tells them to stop, then he said they will call off the staging of the Games.
But based on the mayor's statements during a press conference Wednesday, Ramirez said he instructed his organizing committee to finish the games early starting Thursday until Saturday, so the children can also be sent home early.
He underscored the importance of the Children's Games being vital in instilling discipline, which he said is the real gold mine for Philippine sports.
The village sports forum, according to him, is also crucial as some 60 participants took their oath as members of the Davao Sports for Peace Corps yesterday.
"This is even more important because the barangay leaders will become members of the barangay sports for peace program as they continue to help us promote this in their locality," he said.
From Davao City, the Children's Games will next go to Cagayan de Oro City and Butuan City before making stops in other parts of Mindanao. Luzon and Visayas versions of the Games will also be held in the future.
Meanwhile, Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera, who represented Mayor Duterte-Carpio during the opening program of the seminar, said all events in the city this week will continue including the Summerfest 2017 that his office is organizing and the PSC-backed Summer Children's Games.
"Our Mayor is on top of the situation," Aportadera said, thanking the PSC for bringing the program here. He also said that sports, which helps mold and transform children's character, is the only way to keep them away from illegal drugs.
PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey, for his part, urged barangay executives to take active roles in promoting sports in their respective barangays.
"You are here as our partners in grassroots sports development," Maxey said in his message.
Liga ng mga Barangay president and Davao City Councilor January Duterte was represented by Barangay Mahayag Captain Eufemia Baquirel who welcomed the participants.