PSC finalizing revival of Philippine National Games

Make way for the return of the Philippine National Games. The Philippine Sports Commission is keen on reviving the games that were put to rest for several years now. The government sports agency is tentatively scheduling the PNG from May 30 to June 5. “It’s time to have this so that we can have a grassroots program that will help the NSAs in the identification of athletes," said PSC executive director Geraldine Bernardo. Bernardo announced the staging of the event to national sports associations (NSAs) during their SEA Games meeting with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Wednesday at the POC offices in Philsports complex. Bernardo said the PSC is already looking at Bacolod, Dumaguete and Camarines Sur as possible venues for the PNG. The PNG started in 1993 under then PSC commissioner Celso Dayrit by virtue of Executive Order 163 under former President Fidel V. Ramos. Its last staging was in 1996. Under the program, the PNG will be the “national open" of the NSAs where they can scout for fresh talent that may be included in the national team. Bernardo said the PSC plans to allot P15 million for the overall operations of the event. Bernardo said they will finalize the details of the event when PSC chairman Ricardo Garcia returns to Manila. Garcia is competing in the PAL Interclub golf tournament in Cagayan De Oro. The PSC is also planning to revive the Batang Pinoy for kids in the elementary level. - KY, RCJ, Reuben Terrado, GMA News