UNLIKE its hosting of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa that was plagued by thousands of black bugs, hosts assured Friday, October 14, that the pests will no longer be a problem when the Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championships unfurls in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on November 27 to December 2.
Davao del Norte provincial sports coordinator Giovanni Gulanes, in a Facebook chat interview with VoxPop Davao said Friday, "Walay full moon during that week (There's no full moon during the Games)." He also said that the black bugs only strike whenever there is a full moon.
The black bugs issue was raised during a Batang press conference at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) conference room in Malate, Manila Friday with PSC Commissioners Charles Raymond Maxey and Celia Kiram, PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez's executive assistant Ronnel Abrenica and PSC proram, research and development division chief Dr. Lauro Domingo, Jr. in attendance. VoxPop Davao obtained details of the press conference via phone patch.
Commissioner Maxey, in replying to a question posed by a sportswriter, said, "I was there in Tagum during the Palaro, big issue talaga ang black bugs but I don't think it will be a concern in the Batang Pinoy this November."
Gulanes also said that their preparations are ongoing, saying, "We are currently working it out pero easier nalang kasi established na last Palaro."
He added that by first week of November, everything will be ready from the facilities, venues, utilities and security concens. Around 15 to 18 schools in Tagum City will be used for the billeting of delegates.
Commissioner Kiram, during the press conference, bared they expect some 10,000 delegates, estimating 3,000 delegates each for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including technical officials and other stakeholders.
She reiterated the subsidy of P3,000 for the first 75 athletes of every participating LGU, adding that the LGUs can send more than 75 but will have to shoulder the rest of their expenses. She also assured that the subsidy will be given direct to each athlete.
"Around 26 to 27 sports will be featured but gymnastics will be held here in Manila," Kiram said.
Maxey added that aside from gymnastics, other Batang Pinoy sports include archery, judo, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, 3-on-3 basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, dancesport, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, rugby football, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.
Abrenica, for his part, clarified the co-hosting of Tagum and Davao del Norte LGUs of the Batang Pinoy as a prior agreement with the PSC.
Dumaguete was earlier announced to host the Games for 17 years old and below athletes.
"The two LGUs will share the hosting with Tagum in charge of the billeting and Davao del Norte with the venues and the opening ceremony, among others, just like what they did in the Palaro hosting," Abrenica said.
On security concerns, Maxey said the Roxas Night Market bombing in Davao City last September 2 will not affect the turnout of participants as the hosts are in close coordination with the Philippine National Police.
Gulanes, for his part, said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are still finalizing details of the security plan.
Maxey, meanwhile, added that they are upbeat about the Batang Pinoy, saying, "Dito kukuha ng future athletes, new talents. This is a big project for us. We are pushing through with it kahit bago lang nag-transition."
He also cited Davao City for planning to hold its own eliminations to select the best athletes to the Games.
