Private Schools, State Colleges to Unify in One National Games

NAGA CITY - - DURING THE CLOSING RITES of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) National Games held here, PRISAA national chairman, Dr. Gonzalo Duque revealed that PRISAA national games next year will now be joint with the State Colleges Association Athletic Games to be held in Tacloban City in February of 2010.

According to Duque, the PRISAA national board, Philippine Sports Commission, and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles have signed a memorandum of agreement for the joint national games of the private schools and state colleges, in pursuance of a Presidential directive for a "national integrated sports program."

Duque also said that next year's joint national games will also involve the Amateur Boxing Association of the Phils. to enhance boxing as among the major athletic events.

It was also reported that CHED Chairman Angeles has scheduled a "National Academic Festival" in June next year, which will explore competitions on Academics and Sciences for Tertiary level competitors, both from private schools and state colleges, Duque said.

This year's PRISAA has major adjustments with contenders from the ARMM and Cordillera regions having completed the national games for the first time. Meanwhile holding the PRISAA games this April had disadvantages with the high temperatures in Bikol this summer and the low turn-out of student participation due to summer vacation.

The week-long PRISAA games dominated by athletes from the National Capital Region, Western Visayas and Mindanao was hosted by Naga City this year; reportedly, the games had been held in this city 50 years ago in February 1959 at the then College of Nueva Caceres. (SONNY SALES)