WITH  typhoon  Ompong expected  to leave  the country, the   2018  Batang Pinoy  National Championships in  Baguio City and  Benguet Province  will finally push  through.

Philippine  Sports  Commission  (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez  made the announcement following consultations  with Baguio City Mayor  Mauricio  Domogan.    In statement distributed to the media, both  Ramirez and  Domogan  said  they  have decided  to  forego  the   opening ceremonies  “to allow teams to  let the   typhoon  pass and  arrive   in  Baguio before  the  competition proper on Sept. 17.

Domogan  also  promised  a “grand closing  celebration” in place of the opening  ceremony.

Ramirez  said  a  mass is also scheduled   this morning (Sunday, Sept. 16)   at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City  before  the  athletes, officials and media  travel  to  Baguio.

The two officials also  assured the public that all measures to secure  and  support delegations are being taken.

Ramirez,  who  also consulted  the PSC Crisis Management Team,  supported  the  decision of Domogan to cancel the opening ceremony   and  instructed  his staff  to  “allow  stranded  delegates  on  the  way  to Baguio to stay in the PSC safe houses.”

The   Rizal  Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and  Philsports  have  already served  as  shelter  houses  for   close to  500  athletes  who have been  stranded in the city due to the tpyhoon.

Batang Pinoy Program Director  and  PSC  Deputy Executive  Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy said he  is constantly monitoring the developments.

“Chairman Ramirez explicitly instructed us to give support to  delegations  every  way we can,” said Iroy.

Ramirez  said  that the PSC has  received  information   that  there  are  some   delegations considering to  pull out because of the  storm.

Ramirez said  the PSC is  now studying the scheduling of major sports events  in the country, like  the Philippine  National Games   and  the Palarong Pambansa of the   Department of Education  “not  to be  held within   the   storm-months of  July to October.”

More than 7,000  athletes, coaches and   participants are expected to converge   in the country’s  “Summer Capital” for the  week-long competition.

Ramirez   disclosed that  there are already seven delegations in Baguio.

He  assured support of the PSC on delegations which would need assistance  because of  the adjustment  in the  schedule  due to the typhoon.

An u pdated general competition schedule has also  been released to guide team  officials and parents on planning their team’s logistics and travel.

“We  will  keep the public updated through  our social media pages as  well as our   website,” said Ramirez, who earlier  stated that the   event will maximize use of technology in disseminating information to the public.

A PSC  hotline to answer questions regarding  Batang Pinoy was also put in  place due  to the typhoon.