PSC to hold quarterly sports competition in the Visayas
To boost the country’s grassroots development program and identify potential athletes, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will hold a quarterly sports competition in the Visayas starting next year.
PSC Commissioner Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez told Cebu Daily News on Saturday that the said project will be the first of its kind in the country and he is proud to say it will start in the Visayas.
“When I accepted this job, my one and only condition to Secretary Bong Go and Chairman Butch Ramirez is that I will have to hold office in Cebu and take care of the Visayas program,” said Fernandez.
He also revealed that his staff in the PSC Visayas office has already made the rounds in key cities around the region, met different public officials informing them of the PSC’s plans.
“They are already going around the different cities of the Visayas, organizing and talking to the mayors and letting them know what the plans of PSC Visayas are,” added Fernandez.
12 priority sports
A total of 12 priority sports which are all Olympic sports except basketball, will be featured in the quarterly meet. It will be hosted by different cities in the Visayas region.
“We did not include basketball because it takes a lot of time. Instead we will focus on sports that has weight categories and are easier to organize,” said Fernandez.
The medalists in each quarter will qualify for the final leg slated at year’s end. But winners in the earlier legs will have continuous training under the PSC to keep them busy and further hone their skills for the final leg.
Fernandez revealed that his office has already received encouraging support from various mayors in the Visayas.
He cited Mayor Jesry Palmares of Passi City in Iloilo as one of those who expressed interest in the program.
“Mayor Jesry Palmares was very happy because when he was still vice mayor, he was the one who goes to the PSC office in Manila to ask for help regarding their sports program but nothing happened. Now, it is the PSC who goes to their cities to help,” said Fernandez.
Details of the quarterly sports meet will be announced soon, Fernandez said.
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