Athletes, venues not spared by nature’s fury

MANILA, Philippines — Sports officials have plotted a drive to help athletes who may have been affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano in Batangas.

Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association president Monty Mendigoria yesterday announced their plan, together with kickboxing and cycling officials.

“We are starting a drive to help local skateboarders who may have been affected. Tagaytay and Batangas suffered so much because of massive ashfall so we will be assessing the situation with them since they’re based there,” Mendigoria yesterday told The STAR.

“We will form a support team to go up to Tagaytay to help out.”

Taal erupted over the weekend, spewing massive ashes and rocks all over Batangas, Cavite as well as other parts of Metro Manila.

With quakes jolting Taal vicinity on a regular basis since then, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) has raised the alert status of Taal to No.4, bracing for an imminent eruption and calling for an all-out evacuation in nearby towns.

Mendigoria said a drive to help those in need, not only athletes, has already been launched by the involved NSAs – requesting for the public support especially in relief operations.

The drive will also include clean-up of major sporting venues like the newly-built skate park in Tagaytay City that was used for the just-concluded 30th SEA Games.

“The Tagaytay skatepark is now filled with ashes. We will schedule a clean-up drive in coordination with the Tagaytay City administration,” he added.

Aside from housing skateboarding and roller sports, Tagaytay is also home to cycling as a regular venue for local and international events.