Staging of Batang Pinoy could promote tourism, says exec

TACLOBAN CITY – Sports activity such as the Batang Pinoy that is being held in the city of Tacloban and hosted by the province of Leyte does not only promote sports but also tourism.

So said Attorney Jay Alano, project director of the Batang Pinoy, who said that they had already visited some places in Tacloban and in the province that are considered as historic and tourist spots during their vacant time after arriving in the city this week.

“This a great opportunity to promote your area, not just to become venue of sports activity but also a chance to invite those who are attending competitions to include their companions to visit places that are known to be famous during their free time,” Alano said.

The influx of people coming to the city would mean increase of chance to promote what the region can offer among possible local tourists coming from the neighboring regions and provinces in the Visayas, Alano added.

She added that they are hoping to double the number of participants this year to the participants in last year’s event in Dumaguete that only reach to more than 500 athletes which she added could provide a good chance of promoting the province for sports tourism as many people would be talking about what the province in-store for their visitor.

The existing facilities owned and manage by the province of Leyte, like the Leyte Sports Development Center according to Alano is one of the best ways to promote sports tourism because the facility is already available for anyone who wanted to use it for sports competition.

Philippine Information Agency Regional Director Olive Tiu as one of the government agency partners in the media promotion of Batang Pinoy said that just like the hosting of the province of Palarong Pambansa in 2009.

Batang Pinoy hosting is a rare event which the region can be proud of and needs to be supported by every local government unit’s officials to include their citizenry.

Generosity and hospitality must be shown by every Waraynon to the guests of Batang Pinoy event and also calls for the transport sector not to abuse the event by charging higher fare.

Thirteen various sports are to be competed with by athletes among which are taekwondo, weightlifting, table tennis, lawn tennis, swimming, softball, karatedo, chess, boxing, badminton, arnis, athletics, and dance sport which is to be held at the Leyte High Gym.

Winners of the competition are to compete in the national championship to be held in Iloilo next month while those who are going to win in the national game are to compete in the 2014 Youth Olympics Games in Nanjing , China and a chance to join the Olympic pool of the country.