Mindanao Friendship Games up next for PSC

PUERTO PRINCESA — Now that the curtains have been lowered on the third BIMP East Asia Growth Area Friendship Games, the Philippine Sports Commission is setting its sights on the third Mindanao Friendship Games set Oct. 19-24 in Mati, Davao Oriental.

Sports commissioner Leon Montemayor, project director of the three-day event involving Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and RP, said preparations have resumed for the annual multi-sports meet aimed at fostering peace and unity in the region through sports.

"All the preparations have been made, we’re prepared technically and we are 80 percent ready when it comes to the venue," said Montemayor.

He added that the renovation of Mati’s track and field oval is ongoing and they expect it to be finished by September, a month before the games unfold.

The Davao City native sports leader also said that peace and order will not be a problem since Mati Mayor Francisco Rabat, a former Olympian, has good ties with the Moro Islamic and Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People’s Army (NPA).

"The MILF and NPA will not be a problem because Mayor Rabat has good relations with them and Mati has always been a peaceful place," said Montemayor.

"In fact, they can even field a team if they want," he added.

Noli Tacay, Montemayor’s executive assistant, said a total of 25 sports disciplines are lined up in the MFG as part of the agency’s thrust to promote events played in the Southeast Asian Games.

"Slowly but surely we’ve increased our events to 25 disciplines and we’re planning to make it 32, almost the same number played in the SEA Games, in future Mindanao Games editions," Tacay said. — Joey Villar