PSC offers incentives to top LGUs in PNG

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission will hand over incentives in the form of sports program and equipment to the top five local government units seeing action in the Phl National Games scheduled May 19-25 in Cebu.

PSC chair Butch Ramirez said the best performing LGU will receive a sports program package worth P5 million while the second to fifth placers will get incentives worth P4M, P3M, P2M and P1M, respectively.

“For the winners, this is our way of rewarding them for their hard work and we know this will go a long way for their programs,” said Ramirez yesterday. “For those who wouldn’t, at least this will be their motivation to work harder and hopefully win next year.”

The country’s government sports agency is expecting about 10,000 participants to compete in 22 sports, including track and field and Olympic events swimming, boxing, archery, gymnastics, taekwondo, cycling and weightlifting.

Other events on tap in the meet, serving as the national championships of the various national sports associations, are arnis, badminton, chess, dance sports, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, softball, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, beach volley and rugby.               

PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez said they are implementing the old policy for members of the national team representing their respective provinces.

“Before, when you’re with the national team, you are representing the country in the PNG. Now we are reverting to the practice during the time of Cito Dayrit allowing our national athletes to represent their home province or LGU,” said Fernandez.

Meanwhile, PSC commissioner Charles Maxey announced the holding of the first Indigenous Games for minority tribes and groups on April 27-28 at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex.