The city government of Iloilo will send 196 delegates to the 2024 Batang Pinoy national championships in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Nov. 23 to 28.

In an interview on Monday, Executive Assistant for Youth and Sports Rudiver Jungco Sr. said that with the adjustments in age requirement, allowing only children aged 12 to 17 years to play, the city will have limited entries.

But the city government is hopeful that 80 to 90 percent of the participating athletes could bring home medals.

In the past, most of the medals came from the nine to 10 age group, he said.

“We (will join) badminton, boxing, cycling, dance sports, judo, jujitsu, karatedo, kickboxing, obstacle course, swimming, pencak silat, table tennis, and taekwondo,” he added.

Jungco said most of the delegates are products of the Iloilo City Sports Academy (ICSA), the grassroots program of the local government, and named one of the 18 best governance practices in the country by the Galing Pook Foundation.

He said the city government is now preparing PHP2.1 million to defray the expenses of the delegates.

Iloilo City placed sixth in 2023 and fifth in 2022.

Jungco said he will try their best this year.

Meanwhile, Jungco said the city government is eyeing to add gymnastics to the list of sports events available at ICSA.

“If we have a trainer, we can start early,” he added. (PNA)