THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will have a more active role in this year’s Palarong Pambansa, which the government sports agency brands as a major component in its revitalized grassroots program.

Besides its usual task of providing technical support, the PSC, this time, and through its Philippine Sports Institute (PSI), will hold training and education seminars to team managers and coaches involved in the annual multisport event for student-athletes.

“We want to have a more active role in the Palaro, as we consider this as a major component of our grassroots program,” said PSC commissioner Eric Loretizo.

“But still, this is a DepEd (Department of Education) show. DepEd will call the shot, and the PSC is just on the support,” he added.

Loretizo, who was tasked by PSC chairman William Ramirez to handle the agency’s grassroots affairs, yesterday met with Department of Education (DepEd) officials led by Undersecretary Ramon Bacani and Task Force Palaro head Len Toledo to discuss plans for the event’s 2008 edition, which will be held April 20 to 26 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Based on the initial plan, there will be a total of 31 events—14 in the elementary level and 17 in the high school—on the calendar. These are athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, lawn tennis and volleyball in both divisions; archery, arnis, boxing and sepak takraw in the secondary and Sipa in the primary category.

Loretizo said they will meet again next month to finalize the other aspects of the event.

Meanwhile, the city government of Puerto Princesa has expressed its readiness to host the annual event that is expected to attract some 5,000 student-athletes from around the country.

Mayor Edward Hagedorn said that bringing in the event to Puerto Princesa is part of their effort to make the city the sports tourism capital of the Philippines.

He said the city has sports facilities for the competition, citing the world-class coliseum that has a seating capacity of 8,000 and a sports complex complete with track and field oval and an Olympic-size pool.

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THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will have a more active role in this year’s Palarong Pambansa, which the government sports agency brands as a major component in its revitalized grassroots program.

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