Yolanda sends B Pinoy finals to new dates

MANILA, Philippines - In the wake of the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas region, the Philippine Sports Commission has decided to move next week’s scheduled Batang Pinoy national finals in Bacolod City to Jan. 28- Feb. 1, 2014. 

PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez said although Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have come out relatively okay from Friday’s monster storm and expressed readiness to proceed with the games as originally set Nov. 19-23, they deemed it wise to postpone the tourney.

“Our reasons for postponement are as follows: Number One is sensitivity to the (plight) people, our brothers in the Visayas who are suffering from this disaster. Number Two: Although the host province and city expressed their readiness, saying they’re almost back to 100 percent conditions, we have to be sensitive to the transportation requirements of the winners of the Visayas leg,” said Gomez.

Of the 2,700 athletes taking part in the sportsfest for athletes aged 15-and-below, 151 qualifiers come from Leyte, one of the most hardest hit by Yolanda, and 177 from Cebu, which also took a hit from the howler.

“This represents 20 percent of our participants; that’s a significant number we have to be sensitive about,” said Gomez, adding that they actually couldn’t establish contact with one of their stakeholders in the Games, the Leyte Sports Academy as of this time.

Another major sports activity set in the Visayas this month – the Asian Games Centennial Celebration slated Nov. 28-29 in Boracay – was not spared by Yolanda.

Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta said they are postponing the Centennial Celebrations indefinitely.

“Consultations are presently being done with the Olympic Council of Asia for prudent and appropriate action,” he said.