Leyte to host Batang Pinoy 2012 Visayas leg

By Provincial Media Relations Center
August 8, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The province of Leyte is set to host again a national sporting event, the “Batang Pinoy Visayas Leg” set on November 21 to 24 at the Leyte Sports Development Center here.

To be played is the Philippine Youth Games – Batang Pinoy, mandated by Executive Order No. 44, which envisions to address the needs for a grassroots sports program centered on values formation inherent in the practice of sports and fair play.

Moreover, this program is designed to instill the benefits of physical fitness and core values that would help in addressing juvenile delinquency.

Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla said the provincial government is proud to again play host to such a big sporting event.

Leyte played host to the Palarong Pambansa in 2009, with the Leyte Sports Development Center as the central venue of the various sporting events.

Those who can play in the Batang Pilipino Games are Filipino children (whether naturalized or Filipino-born) must be 15 years old and below (born in 1997 and the years thereafter).

"Foreign-Pinoys" may also join provided he/she represents a particular Local Government Unit hence, LGU representation of an athlete shall also be decided based on parents’ voting residency.

Representation in this event is strictly by LGU which could be in the form of provincial, city or municipality representation; and no athlete shall be accepted without accreditation of a particular LGU.

The Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg will gather together young athletes from Regions 6, 7 and 8.

Qualifying tournaments in this leg include: arnis, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and karatedo.