Duterte opens National Games in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — President Duterte will officially usher in the ninth edition of the Philippine National Games today at the Cebu City Sports Center here with over 5,000 athletes, coaches and officials in attendance.

“No changes, the President will attend,” said Ramon Fernandez, the Philippine Sports commissioner in charge of the organization of the weeklong event.

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez and commissioners Celia Kiram, Charles Raymond Maxey and Arnold Agustin will join Fernandez in welcoming the Chief Executive, who has been the leading figure in various national sports events’ openers, including the last two editions of the Palarong Pambansa, where he exhorted the youth to strive for excellence while underscoring their role in nation-building.

Also invited to the event are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Cabinet Sec. Leoncio Evasco Jr., Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano along with Phl Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas and POC sec-gen Patrick Gregorio.

Fernandez said Cebu will host 31 of the 32 events in the PNG calendar, including centerpiece athletics and medal-rich swimming at the main hub, basketball at the Minglanilla Sports Complex, football at the Don Bosco Technology Center grounds and volleyball at the USC and USPF Gyms among others.