Legazpi City – Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey gracing the Palarong Bicol 2017 on its opening and closing rites acknowledges its significance in grassroots sports development.

Maxey said in a press briefing that he was glad PSC was given a seat in Palarong Bicol Board giving him an opportunity not only to extend technical assistance but also to check on the sports development from the bases or grassroots.

He added that the real source of sports development is the conduct of regional Palaro itself where most of the competing national athletes are fruits of the said efforts because the foundation of a sportsman’s athleticism begins as early as their primary and secondary school years.

Stressing its significance, Maxey also expressed that they are looking at placing Regional Training Centers all over the country so they could hit the ground running for grassroots sports development program.

Meanwhile, DepEd Regional Director Ramon Fiel G. Abcede expressed appreciation for the support mentioned by the PSC Commissioner as DepEd Regional Office V continues to adhere on one of its mandates in making the Palarong Bicol a venue for talent identification, selection and recruitment of athletes with potentials for national or even international sports events.

“We are also glad that this year, the Palarong Bicol Board was finally created contextualizing the provisions set forth in the Palarong Pambansa Act for the management and administration of the Palarong Bicol.” RD Abcede added.

The Palarong Bicol Board (PBB) is composed of the Regional Director of DepED RO V as ex-officio Chair, the Assistant Regional Director as Co-chair, The Regional School Sports Officer, with the 13 Schools Division Superintendents, one from PSC and one from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG.) (MMLJ)