Palaro officials say combat sports safe

MANILA, Philippines — With safety a paramount concern, the Department of Education Friday assured that boxing in the coming Palarong Pambansa won’t pose any danger to its participants.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Toni Umali said they’ve tapped the technical personnel from the Alliance of Boxing Associations in the Philippines, the country’s governing body in the sport, to handle the boxing tournament.

“Rest assured that our officials were properly trained to conduct the boxing competitions and other combat sports,” said Umali, the secretary general of the Palaro set May 4 to 10 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

“We have been very strict when it comes to the safety of our student athletes,” said Umali during Tuesday’s PSA forum at Shakey’s Malate.