Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg kicks off in Iloilo

From left, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go attend opening ceremony of Batang Pinoy Visayas leg at Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City on February 24, 2019 (Photo courtesy of PSC via PNA)

ILOILO CITY — The Visayas qualifying leg of the 2019 Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy (PYG-BP) unfolds on Monday with 14 gold medals up for grabs in athletics and swimming competitions at the Iloilo Sports Complex here.

A total of 2,849 athletes from 71 local government units (LGUs) are entered in the week-long tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for children 15 years old and below.

Aside from the Iloilo Sports Complex, which will also serve as venue of the basketball, chess, and table tennis, other sports events will be held at the West Visayas State University (archery and futsal), Iloilo Science and Technological University (arnis), Jaro Gymnasium (badminton), La Paz (baseball, and lawn tennis), Dungon A Jaro (boxing), Holy Rosary Academy (dance sport), SM City North Wing (karatedo), Times Square ICC Gaisano (pencak silat), Central Philippines University gym (sepak takraw, softball and indoor volleyball), Robinsons Pavia (taekwondo) and Joe III Garden (beach volleyball).

“It is an honor for us to host the Batang Pinoy Visayas leg qualifying. Sports is close to the heart of our mayor,” said Rommel Castro, senior executive assistant of Mayor Jose Espinosa Jr. during Sunday’s press conference at the Diamond Jubilee Hall.

Also present were PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and commissioner Charles Maxey, Iloilo City Youth Sports Development Office head Moises Salomon Jr. and 2019 PYG-BP project director lawyer Guillermo Iroy Jr.

Ramirez was joined by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Espinosa and PSC commissioners Maxey, Arnold Agustin and Ramon Fernandez during the opening ceremony at the Iloilo Sports Complex later in the afternoon.

Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former Special Assistant to the President Rodrigo Duterte, and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who are both running for senatorial seats, attended the opening ceremony.

Cebu City has the most number of entries with 316 (169 boys and 147 girls) followed by host Iloilo City (311), Cebu Province (297) and Bacolod City (188).

Cebu City emerged overall champion with 46 golds, 59 silvers and 69 bronzes in last year’s Visayas leg held in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental while Dumaguete City finished second with 41 golds, 29 silvers and 44 bronzes and Bacolod City placed third with 29 golds, 23 silvers and 20 bronzes.

Meanwhile, 11 sports namely billiards, cycling, gymnastics, judo, Muay Thai, rugby football, triathlon, soft tennis, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu have been included in the National Finals scheduled in October in either Bohol or Ormoc City.

The Mindanao qualifying leg was held in Tagum, Davao del Norte last February 2-9 while the Luzon elimination will be held from March 16 to 23 in Ilagan, Isabela.