Athletes help pack relief goods for ‘Yolanda’ victims

MANILA, Philippines — Sports officials and national team athletes extended a helping hand to the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” and turned Ninoy Aquino Stadium into a repacking center.

The Philippines Sports Commission-owned stadium at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila is being used by the Department of Social Welfare and Development as a venue to pack supplies for donation.

Southeast Asian Games Task Force member Paul Ycasas from the PSC said that the repacking operations started Thursday and will go on as needed, 24/7.

Scheduled events at the 24-year-old stadium have also been cancelled or rescheduled to give way to the typhoon relief efforts.

Yscasas also said PSC donated 1000 boxes of mineral water given by PSC’s sponsor for the Philippine National Games, but were not consumed.

Athletes, who were not included in the delegation to the SEA Games in December, have also volunteered to do repacking like the Dragon Boat team.

“We will ask more athletes who are not going to the SEA Games to help out with the operations,” Ycasas, who attended the weekly SCOOP Forum at Kamayan Padre Faura, said in Filipino.