Batang Pinoy faces possible cancellation

PSC Chair William Ramirez. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The Batang Pinoy program is in danger of getting cancelled starting next year as it was deemed redundant by no less than the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

PSC chair Butch Ramirez said the grassroots multi-event, for children 15 years old and below, “duplicates” the Palarong Pambansa which is for elementary and high school students under 18 years old.

“We are still evaluating,” Ramirez told the Inquirer. “The (PSC) board will still deliberate. Nothing is final yet.”

But he added that local government units “are complaining of so many expenditures” as athletes represent their respective LGUs unlike Palaro, which is a competition among the country’s 17 regions.

At any rate, Ramirez said the PSC is willing to focus on helping LGUs develop top-level coaches and administrators.

Batang Pinoy Visayas, the most productive among all the legs in terms of discovering talents, will be held in Dumaguete City starting Friday.