Mga kabataan ang dapat gumamit ng sports complex -- Poe

MANILA, Philippines - Hindi dapat mawalan ng pagkakataon ang mga kabataan na ma­ka­lahok sa iba’t ibang spor­ting activities sa ka­nilang batang edad.

Ito ang sinabi kaha­pon ni Sen. Grace Poe ka­sa­bay ng panawagan para palakasin ang prog­rama ng Palarong Pam­bansa na pinagkukunan ng mga potensyal na na­tio­nal athletes.

Tinukoy din ni Poe, isang taekwondo practi­tioner, ang mga sports com­plex sa Luzon, Vi­sa­yas at Mindanao na ipi­nagawa para lamang sa Palarong Pambansa.

Ayon sa Senadora, ang naturang mga ve­nues ay maaaring gamitin para sa pagsasanay ng mga kabataan.

“Since 1948, when the first Bureau of Pub­lic Schools Interscholas­tic Athletics Association (BPISAA) Games were held, until it reincarna­ted into the Palarong Pam­­bansa in 1974, ma­ny public sports com­plexes have been built as venues for the Games. The national go­vernment and the local government units should help the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in keeping these venues in top shape so that our young athletes could enjoy access to these faci­lities in their dreams of be­co­ming future sports stars,” sabi ni Poe.

“We should save these facilities from be­­coming white elephants,” dagdag pa nito.

Ayon pa kay Poe, ang karamihan sa natu­rang mga venues ay hindi na ginagamit para sa sporting purposes.

“Most of the time, these venues are only being tapped for non-sports activities. There could be more times when political activities and programs are held in these venues. Sayang na­man ang pagkaka­ta­on. Let us give these fa­cilities back to our youth,” wika ni Poe.

Halos 36 siyudad at probinsya ang tuma­yong host ng Palarong Pam­bansa simula noong 1948 kung saan sumabak ang mga elementary at high school students sa iba’t ibang sports disciplines na ngayon ay uma­bot sa 17 sports.

Ang Tagum City sa Da­vao del Norte ang pi­nakahuling namahala sa Palaro nitong taon.

Ang iba pang mga nangasiwa sa Palaro ng higit sa dalawang be­ses ay ang Manila, Tu­guegarao, Cavite, Vigan, Iloilo, Lingayen sa Pangasinan, Tacloban, Zamboanga City, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Lucena, Koronadal at Na­ga.

“Unfortunately, some the venues which have hosted the Games are no longer there. The others were maintained by the host provinces and cities, while the newer ones get refurbished once in a while when their owners bid for another shot at Pala­rong Pambansa hosting,” sabi ni Poe.

“There’s still a chance for us to improve on our regional stan­ding in sports. While there is no denying that our neighbors have improved a lot, especially in events where Filipino athletes used to excel, it is not too late for us to go back where we used to scout for potential ta­lents,” pagtatapos ng Se­nadora.