Estrada to grace Palaro ng Bayan

In a gesture that leaves no doubt sports is also close to his heart, President Estrada has agreed to personally open the Palaro ng Bayan at the Acharon Sports Complex in General Santos City on Feb. 26.

By deciding to attend the PnB's inaugural ceremonies as its guest of honor and speaker, the Chief Executive has given this ambitious project the perfect boost in its attempt to spur countrywide involvement in sports.

The PnB, a brainchild of San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, gathers together promising young athletes from the various cities and municipalities for nine days of competition in disciplines ranging from track and field to the combat sports of taekwondo.

Originally scheduled to open last month, the national finals of the PnB were moved back by organizers so President Estrada may be able to join some 7,000 delegates in the celebration.

The sportsfest is limited to athletes aged 13 to 18 years old.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Tuason said he has received word from the hosts that preparations for the event have reached fever-pitch level, and only the finishing touches are being applied to the refurbished facilities and competition venues.

Tuason has also been assured by PSC commissioner Leonardo Celles and Dr. Anthony Nicanor, the head of the PnB national secretariat, of enough accommodation for participating athletes, coaches and officials.

"It's all systems go. We've tried our best to foresee whatever problems that could crop up. This is a big undertaking and we need everybody's cooperation to pull it off," the PSC chair said.

Jinggoy Estrada, in his capacity as national president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, pushed for the PnB and rallied the local government units to get involved in the formation and training of their teams.

The competition is spread in four venues, including Koronadal town in South Cotabato, Saranggani Province and Sultan Kudarat, which has volunteered to stage the boxing bouts.