Eliminations
City-wide try-outs for BP, PNG, Eaga Games
UNLIKE the usual practice in the past where sports leaders or the Department of Education (Deped) Davao City were given a free hand to select entries, the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDDCMO) will soon conduct a city-wide eliminations to send the best and finest athletes to the upcoming Batang Pinoy Games, Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission (POC-PSC) National Games and BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games.
SDD-CMO officer-incharge Mikey Aportadera bared this during the Sports Stakeholders Consultative Meeting held at the Fuschia Room of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Building in Davao city yesterday.
He said that holding eliminations had been a clamor of most stakeholders to give equal opportunities for all athletes to qualify and represent the city in these competitions.
Although he will consider recommendations, Aportadera said his office will have the final say who will form the delegations to these three sporting meets, considering that the city government will fund their participation.
"The decision will come from me. We will meet each NSA (national sports association) or leaders per sport to discuss their event's eliminations as we only have limited time to prepare. We need to do this otherwise nothing happens," Aportadera said in the vernacular, adding that they will look for a budget for the eliminations.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) regional director James Infiesto lauded the move, saying, "I think this is the very good to have an open approach among NSAs and sports leaders in Davao, making sports inclusive not exclusive. We are very happy so far."
League of Swimmers and Coaches Davao chairperson Antoninette AdleMendoza, for her part, said: "It's a good thing we can air our all concerns."
Meanwhile, Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) Officer Blessie Kate delos Santos appreciated the meeting as it promoted a healthy discussion among stakeholders who attended, mostly coming from different NSAs, clubs, sports organizations, Deped and sports media.
"Narevive na same problems dati pero this time mapangitaan na og pamaagi (Problems in the past are being resolved)," Delos Santos said.
Philippine Badminton Association regional director Rizza Quicoy, however, would appeal to Aportadera that secondary winners of the Davao City Athletic Association (Dcaa) Meet set first week of November will be the ones to compose the city's badminton team to the Batang Pinoy Games.