LET THE GAMES BEGIN. Opening ceremony of the Philippine National Games 2018 at the Cebu City Sports Center on Saturday night (May 19, 2018). (Photo by Luel Galarpe/PNA)
CEBU CITY -- President Rodrigo Duterte provided additional inspiration to the more than 4,000 athletes and coaches participating in the Philippine National Games (PNG) Saturday night when he announced that he will double the prizes for the winners in the competition.
The local government unit (LGUs) on top of the medal standings after the games will now bring home PHP10 million cash assistance for its sports programs from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) while the three runners-up will receive PHP8 million, PHP6 million, and PHP4 million, respectively.
President Duterte made the surprise announcement at the opening ceremonies of PNG 2018 at the Cebu City Sports Center here.
The President noted the efforts of the PSC and its partners for successfully organizing the Games and urged them to solidify their partnership.
“I urge the PSC and our LGUs to intensify their collaboration with their private partners to further champion various Philippine sports,” he said.
“This will deepen our nation’s commitment to foster sportsmanship and integrity towards sports excellence and global competitiveness,” he added.
He also called on the athletes to continue seeking support from the government, particularly the PSC, through its various development programs so that they may realize their true potential, as well as to support the administration’s campaign against criminality.
“I also encourage everyone to support the administration’s initiatives in addressing the problems we face today, such as criminality, corruption, and illegal drugs. Remember that sports is an effective avenue to instill discipline in our youth (to keep them) away from these societal ills,” President Duterte exhorted his audience.
The President was greeted with loud cheers of “Duterte...Duterte...” upon his arrival around 8 p.m. coming from an earlier function in Alegria, Cebu, where he inaugurated an Oil and Gas Production site.
President Duterte, who shook hands with some of the athletes before going up the grandstand, apologized to the PNG participants and guests for arriving very late, saying “kalayo man diay aning Alegria (Alegria is quite far).” Alegria town, is 115.8 kilometers south of Cebu City.
The President arrived together with Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino.
The opening was also attended by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones, PSC Chairman William Ramirez, and Presidential Adviser on Sports Dennis Uy.
Governor Hilario Davide III and Mayor Tomas Osmeña were also on hand to welcome the competing delegates and guests.
Former pro basketball star Ramon Fernandez, who is also a PSC commissioner, led the lighting of the Urn of Peace and Unity together with some of the Philippine’s sports heroes including 2016 Olympic weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, 1996 Olympic boxing silver medalist Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco Jr., four-time world bowling champion Bong Coo, 2010 world nine-ball champion Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Philippine long-jump queen Elma Muros Posadas, chess grandmaster Eugene Torre, and taekwondo Olympian now Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario.
The week-long Philippine National Games, presented by the PSC and open to athletes 16 years old and above, will serve as the tryouts for the selection of future national team members.
Participating athletes will see action in 22 sports disciplines including archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, cycling, dancesport, gymnastics, judo, karatedo, mountain biking, rugby football, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, lawn and table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, indoor and beach volleyball, and weightlifting.
Some of the competitions will be held in other venues outside Cebu City.
Lawn tennis and weightlifting will be hosted by the City of Naga, the mountain bike competition will be held in Danao City, while road cycling and triathlon will be staged in the Municipality of Tabuelan.
Winning athletes will also be awarded with cash incentives, aside from being included in the national team.
This is the first time for the Queen City of the South to host the PNG since it last hosted the 3rd edition of the games in December 1997. (PNA)
