Davao City has made its mark by hosting not only one but two national sports events.
First, the Palarong Pambansa and second, the National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Championships.
Congressman Sid Ungab cited the big, big support of Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte who helped his team speed up things even at a time when is out of public office. Sid just recently came back as elected Congressman, representing the third district of the city where the Davao City-UP Mindanao Sports Complex is located.
“I am the happiest man alive today, having witnessed the story of this Sports Complex from inception to what it is today,” the Congressman told Edge Davao.
“Special thanks to Mayor Sara who helped us speed up things even when I’m already out of office,” he said.
Actually, before the Palarong Pambansa, the sports facility was already tested when it hosted the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet.
Coach Erwin Protacio, our classmate in the Asean Football Confederation (AFC) Administration Course many moons ago, helped then private citizen Sid Ungab as part of the organizing team and made sure, among other things, that the football field is up to AFC standards.
Davao City under the watch of Mayor Inday is now in our “sports history book” that it has met all the requirements for hosting a national sports event and successfully hosted it. Congratulations Mayor Inday and team!
We would like also to cite the hard work of the local government unit staff, UP Mindanao, private sector volunteers for the success of the two national sports events specially assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission though its Board headed by Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.
Dili biya gyud lalim mag host of national Palaro.
Now the question is what’s next?
In 1996, Dr.Mauro Puyod and his fellow Davao All-Terrain Bikers Association (Datba) officials like Ed Leuenberger and Alex Marfori organized the first BIMP-EAGA Mountain Bike event in Samal.
I was just imagining that probably someday, the BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games can be hosted by the City of Davao.
During the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia East Asian Growth Area was actively promoted and sports was part of its trade relation component.
Gen.Santos City first hosted the BIMP-EAGA Games and the next Games, held every two years, were hosted by the other countries.
Now that we have a sports complex, it seems that a BIMP-EAGA event in the near future can be considered.
Teams from Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia will for sure be excited to come to Davao City once again.
Right Dr.Mauro Puyod?
