MANILA – The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has realized its vision of establishing a regional training center for national boxers. In a landmark move, the PSC and the Bukidnon provincial government signed a memorandum of agreement designating the Bukidnon Sports and Cultural Complex in Malaybalay as the premier training ground for elite Filipino boxers in Mindanao. The 13-hectare complex features an eight-lane track and field oval, football field, Olympic-size swimming and diving pools, 15,000-seat stadium, and a 3,000-seat indoor gymnasium for basketball, badminton and martial arts. The Philippine boxing team will be the first of several national squads to train at the facility. “I am very happy to open this facility because it is the right thing to do for Philippine sports and it all starts in Bukidnon,” PSC Chairperson Patrick Gregorio said. Other national sports federations that will utilize the complex are the Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Association Inc., Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation Inc. and PhilCycling. Proposed developments are the construction of four tennis courts, a softball/baseball diamond, open field for outdoor events, auditorium for cultural performances, and a museum. Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil Roque and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri witnessed the signing. “Imagine if we put regional centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, we will attract the best of the best,” Zubiri said. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to decentralize athlete development and tap into regional talents. “Hindi optimal na ang batang atleta ay aalisin mo sa kanilang tahanan para mag-train at a high level sa isang lugar na hindi nila (It is not an optimal move to pluck out a young athlete from home and implement high-level training away from the) hometown,” Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo said. Karate Pilipinas president Ricky Lim, Pilipinas Sepak Takraw president Karen Caballero, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association deputy secretary general Francis Diaz and PSC chief of staff Loujaye Sonido were also present during the signing. In August, Zubiri led a tour of the complex with Gregorio and other officials. “The PSC’s role goes beyond supporting national athletes. If we work harder and collaborate with LGUs (local government units), we can develop regional training centers,” Gregorio said. “We promised the President that we would develop regional training centers, provided we receive support from the government and LGUs, with each LGU adopting a specific sport they wish to promote.”
