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.