3rd Batang Pinoy meet underway

BACOLOD – The third Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy begins today with 3,500 participants seeing action in a week-long competition which hopefully will form the base for future stars of Philippine sports with organizers vowing to weed out age cheats at the Panaad Sports Complex here.

Local government Secretary Joey Lina will represent President Arroyo in elaborate opening rites that would usher in the meet staged to the tune of P18.7 million and put up to discover talents who could be developed to future national athletes.

The ceremonies will be highlighted by the traditional parade of colors among the contending contingents.

Due to the ongoing conflict in Mindanao, the President has decided to cancel her out-of-town trips in the south.

Despite the expected hitches with regard to registration and transportation of athletes from their billeting stations to the playing venues, the organizers have assured the smooth staging of the event with Bacolod City Mayor Luzviminda Valdez saying "we’re ready."

Action begins today with games in badminton, boxing, football, little league baseball and softball, lawn tennis and volleyball.

Aside from Valdez, Lina and Lim, PSC chairman Carlos Tuason, Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Maranon, Vice Governor Isidro Zayco and top officials from the Philippine Olympic Committee will also grace the event exclusively for youths aged 12 years old and below.

Lim said the PSC will undertake and impose tighter measures in screening athletes to avoid rampant violations of eligibility requirement that has marred the first two stagings of the event.

"We would like the games to be as professional as possible so the PSC is implementing stricter rules in terms of eligibility," said Lim, who tasked Eduardo Lim, Ariel Paredes, Ramon Suzara and two PSC physicians to conduct tight screening of participants. — Joey Villar