THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will formally open Monday its Mindanao satellite office in Davao City, a move aimed to further strengthen the government’s grassroots-development program in the countryside.

Located on Quimpo Boulevard near SM City Davao, the extension office is the first administrative center of the PSC outside of Metro Manila.

“Its primary function is to help augment the talent identification and grassroots-development program of the PSC in Mindanao,” said PSC senior executive Joseph Encabo.

PSC chairman William Ramirez, along with Davao City Mayor Rudy Duterte and Davao Oriental Gov. Cora Malanyaon, will lead the inauguration of the office, which will be headed by Ed Fernandez. PSC commissioners Eric Loretizo, Ritchie Garcia, Joey Mundo and Bong de Luna will also grace the rites.

“With this satellite office, all the needs and problems of Mindanao athletes can easily be addressed. It will coordinate with various local government units the programs of the PSC in Mindanao, which has 27 provinces and 33 cities, as well as the promotion of the Philippine Sports Institute,” added Encabo.

He said the PSC is also planning to put up extension offices in Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga City later this year.

The PSC has allotted P50 million of its 2008 budget to fund grassroots-development programs in the countryside. Included in the program is the revival of the Mindanao Friendship Games late this year, with Lanao del Norte as host.

The multi-sports competition among Mindanao’s local government units was launched in Tubod, Lanao del Norte in 2001, a year after the “all-out war” against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) erupted in Kauswagan town of the same province. The war eventually spread to other parts of the island with MILF presence.
The games were then held in Cagayan de Oro City in 2002 and finally in Mati, Davao Oriental the following year before being shelved.
Besides the MFG, the PSC will also revive the Philippine National Games and will have an even more active involvement in the Palarong Pambansa.

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THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will formally open Monday its Mindanao satellite office in Davao City, a move aimed to further strengthen the government’s grassroots-development program in the countryside.

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