PSC bares 2018 plan for Mindanao sports
PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey underscored their upcoming program next year especially in Mindanao which includes intensifying the Mindanao Children’s Games and the revival of the Mindanao Friendship Games, among others.
Maxey, in an intimate Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum held at Hukad in SM City Davao Annex, said the PSC will give more emphasis on the Mindanao Children’s Games, a brainchild program of PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, that aims to strengthen the grassroots development among the children of Mindanao.
The commissioner said they will be visiting Mati City, Kidapawan City and other cities that they haven’t gone yet including the rebuilding Marawi City.
"We already planned to enter Marawi City last October or November right after the liberation. But Malacañang advised not to (go there) yet since there were also no clearance yet coming from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police)," explained Maxey, adding that Marawi City was initially planned to be the first stop of the Mindanao Children’s Games in 2018 but will be moved to a later date until the war trauma subsides.
One of the highlights on the PSC's sports program in 2018 will be the revival of the Mindanao Friendship Games.
According to Maxey, the event was last hosted in 2008.
Next year, they initially listed 12 events including athletics and swimming among others.
"The chairman (Ramirez) wanted us to hold the friendship games in the first quarter of 2018 but considering PSC's very hectic schedules, the friendship games will be staged on the later part of the year," Maxey said.
PSC, meantime, eyes to hold a diving and open water diving competition along with the celebration of the Araw ng Dabaw Sports Festival.
"These events will be funded by the PSC. We will not contradict on the existing sports events but instead we will add more events during the celebration," Maxey said.
This planned diving and open water competition will be the first to happen in Mindanao, particularly in Davao City.
It will also open opportunity for our local divers and open water swimmers.
Maxey also said they will be conducting numerous consultative meetings, coaches’ education and sports science, under the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI). MARIZZ ROBILLA