Iloilo to host Visayas qualifying leg

By Adrian Stewart Co

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) recently announced Iloilo would serve as host for the 2019 Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg, which is scheduled to take place from February 23 to March 2.

In addition, PSC chairman William Ramirez revealed both city and province of Iloilo also signed an agreement to host the Visayas qualifiers for the Batang Pinoy National Finals this October.

Meanwhile, Tagum City, Davao del Norte will host the Mindanao leg from February 2 to 9 and Ilagan, Isabela will host the Luzon leg from March 16 to 23.

Among the sports to be contested include archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dancesport, futsal, karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, and beach volleyball.

However, cycling, gymnastics, judo, muay, rugby football, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu competitions will no longer be held during qualifying legs and will be played outright in the national finals.

Ramirez noted, there had been plans to stop holding Batang Pinoy.

“When we assumed office, we [wanted] to stop [Batang Pinoy] and focus on Palarong Pambansa but there [was] negative reaction,” he explained. “Dapat ipagpatuloy ‘to to complement the Palarong Pambansa (Batang Pinoy should continue to complement Palarong Pambansa).”/ASC, WDJ