4,000 participants expected in Mindanao leg of Batang Pinoy games

DAVAO CITY – More or less 4,000 participants are expected to join the Mindanao leg of the Philippine Youth National Games-Batang Pinoy (PNYG-BP) slated on March 6-12 in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental.

The participants come from the out-of-of-school youth, in-school youth, in-school students and Filipino-foreign youth aged 15 years and below of the 65 local government units.

These are Agusan del Sur; Antipas, North Cotabato; Arakan; Baliangao; Bukidnon Province; Butuan; Cabadbaran City; Cagayan de Oro; Calamba, Misamis Occidental; Cantilan; Catarman; Claver; Cotabato Province; Dapitan City; Datu Odin Sinsuat; Datu Paglas; Davao City; Davao del Norte; Davao del Sur; Dipolog City; Don Carlos, Bukidnon; Gen. Santos City; Hagonoy, Davao del Sur; Iligan; Island Garden City of Samal; Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; Kiamba; Kidapawan City; Kitaotao, Bukidnon; Koronadal City; Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental; Lanao del Norte; Libona, Bukidnon; Maitum; Malaybalay; Malita, Davao Occidental; Mati City; Midsayap; Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay; Pagadian City; Panabo City; Pangantucan; Pantukan, Compostela Valley; Polomolok; Pres. Manuel Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte; Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental; Sarangani Province; Sibagat, Agusan de Sur; Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte; South Cotabato Province; Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte; Sultan Kudarat; Sultan Kudarat Province; Surigao City; Tacurong City; Tagbina; Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental; Tagum City; Talisayan, Misamis Oriental; Tawi-Tawi; Tulunan; Valencia City, Bukidnon; Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; and Zamboanga City.

The Mindanao leg was originally set June 10-15, 2017 but was moved because of the Maute-ISIS threat in Mindanao that was also placed under martial law by the government.

The opening ceremony on March 6 will be held at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Athletic Complex (MOPAC), which will also be the venue of athletics, table tennis and swimming.

The other events are archery at the Aloran Central ES; arnis at San Vicente Bajo covered court; badminton at Provincial Cultural Center; baseball at Looc Plaridel; basketball for boys at Villaflor covered court; basketball for girls at Oroquieta City gym; boxing at Capitol basketball court; chess at New Function Hall of Capitol Building; dancesport at FCFTC, Capitol compound; karatedo at Plenary Hall Neg. Or. Convention Center; tennis at OCCES/DPWH; Pencak Silatat Pines Ismael Bolando Gym; sepak takraw at Don Mariano Marcos Gym, Panaon; softball at Looc Plaridel Oval; taekwondo at Aloran gym; volleyball at Ramiro Multi-Purpose Gym, Sinnaclaban; and beach volleyball at Brgy. Poblacion Reclamation Area.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez is expected to lead the opening ceremonies along with PSC Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Charles Maxey, Arnold Agustin and Celia Kiram.

Also gracing are Misamis Occidental Gov. Herminia Ramiro, City Mayor Jason Almonte and Oroquieta City Vice Mayor Lemuel Acosta.