Puerto Princesa, Palawan – It’s all systems go for the staging of the Philippine Sports Commission-backed Indigenous Peoples Games here on July 26 and 27 at the Puerto Princesa Sports Complex, the fifth edition since the program’s launching last year.
Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey, upon the instructions of PSC Chairman William I. Ramirez, bared that various tribes from 14 local government units in the province are expected to join this edition of the IP Games.
Maxey said the some 300 participants are seeing action in eight traditional sports and games events such as takbo, langgoy, supok, sibat, pana, casing, pagbayo sa palay, kadang-kadang sa bamboo, and kadang-kadang sa bao.
“Series of coordination meetings were conducted by PSC and the host province of Palawan in a span two weeks,” Maxey said.
“Our preparations leading to the event was very short but we made sure that all the concerns were addressed with the help of the Provincial Sports Office, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and other stakeholders,” added Maxey, who is also the Commissioner In-charge for the IP Games program.
Akyat Yantuk will be the lone unique traditional sports and games that will be demonstrated during the opening ceremony of the Games.
Participating local government units include Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Brooke’s Point, Sofronio Española, Rizal, Balabac, Roxas, Taytay, El Nido, Busuan, Coron, Araceli, and Puerto Princesa City.
Cash prizes and medals are at stake for the winners of each event.
“Aside from the agency’s preparations for the Sea Games, we will make sure that our grassroots sports programs, especially the IP Games will still be implemented,” he disclosed.
It can be recalled that the IP Games was already held in Davao de Norte, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Lagawe, Ifugao, and Kapangan, Benguet last year.
The IP Games in Palawan was organized in coordination with the provincial government of Palawan, city government of Palawan, Department of Education, AFP, PNP, and NCIP.