BACOLOD CITY – The city government is preparing for the Philippine Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Games 2024 Visayas Regional Qualifying Leg from May 26 to June 1.
MAYOR Alfredo Abelardo ‘Albee’ Benitez and Sen. Francis Tolentino pose during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Philippine Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Games 2024 Visayas Regional Qualifying Leg between the city government and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Reserve Command headed by Major Gen. Elpidio Talja at the Mayor’s Office at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Monday, May 6. (Photo courtesy of Albee Benitez Facebook)
Over 3,000 delegates from Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas are expected to join this year’s competition with the theme “Husay ng ROTC, Husay ng Kabataan.”
Mayor Albee Benitez and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Reserve Command headed by Major Gen. Elpidio Talja signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the event at the Mayor’s Office at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Monday, May 6.
The MOA signing was witnessed by Sen. Francis Tolentino, honorary chairperson of the Games’ Executive Organizing Committee; Dr. Raul Alvarez, head of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-Western Visayas, and Dr. Norberto Mangulabnan, president of the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU).
The competition will feature arnis, boxing, chess, taekwondo, volleyball, basketball, target shooting, swimming, e-sports, athletics, sepak takraw, table tennis, raiders competition, and Miss ROTC.
Tolentino said the entire technical team of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will be here, including international referees.
He acknowledged Bacolod as one of the friendliest cities in the country and added that Bacolod is a city where the heartbeat of culture and rhythm of sports converge.
Tolentino thanked Benitez, the city government, and the people of Bacolod for hosting the sports competition.
He said the goal of the ROTC Games is to showcase not just the sportsmanship or athletic skills of the youth but to highlight the ROTC as not just a strict military training for new cadets but also a pathway to patriotism.
Tolentino said they want to have national athletes from the ROTC. “This is the only (as far as I know) the sports competition involving college students,” he added.
Benitez said that this city is pleased and happy to host the ROTC Games. “We look forward for such momentous occasion here. This will be a good significance moving forward in terms of sports activities and tourism,” he added.
Talja thanked the local government for hosting the competition and is looking forward to a very successful ROTC Games.