Puerto Princesa City declared that it is ready to host Batang Pinoy 2019 next month, which will make it ready to mount Palarong Pambansa in the future.
Speaking before barangay captains, City Sports Director Atty. Gregorio Rocky Austria said that with the preparations for the hosting of the upcoming Philippine Youth Games- Batang Pinoy 2019 on August 25 to 31, 2019 in Puerto Princesa City, the city is would be prepared for any national-level sporting event.
“Kapag hindi matuloy sa Mindoro ay ready po tayo dito sa Puerto Princesa. Ang mga ganitong malaking event, ang benepisyo nito sa ating lungsod ay napakaganda,” he said.
Mindoro, a province in Mimaropa region, is next year’s host of Palarong Pambansa.
Atty. Austria further said that as part of next month’s Batang Pinoy, the city government allocated some P15-P20 Million for the repairs of building venue alone.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will bring P15-million worth of sports equipment to Puerto Princesa.
He added that the hosting of national-level event like this is very rare. “Bigay ito sa atin ng Dios na magkaroon tayo ng kanito kalaking event. One year dapat ang preparations nito,” he said.
Austria explained that the event with delegates coming from all parts of the country will impact on the local economy.
He said that the city started joining Batang Pinoy last 2002.
“Ganun na katagal na sumasali tayo nitong Batang Pinoy na palaro ng PSC. Ang larong ito ay paramihan ng gold (medals). Ganun kahirap. Gayunpaman ay maganda ang standing ng Puerto Princesa dito. Ang Batang Pinoy ay hindi ito katulad ng DepEd games na puro estudyante. Ito pati OSY (out of school youth) na 15 years and below,”