The Panaad Aquatic Center in Bacolod City owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government will be the first regional training center for swimming in the country, Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) secretary general Eric Buhain said on Sunday, Nov. 17.
PAI together with the Negros Occidental provincial government staged the 1st Governor Bong Lacson Swimming Cup participated in by more than 400 swimmers from various local government units in Negros Occidental at the newly opened Pana-ad Aquatic Center on Saturday and Sunday.
“This milestone event gathered swimmers, coaches, and officials from across Negros Occidental — marking a strong step forward in elevating grassroots swimming,” the PAI said in a post on its Facebook page on Sunday, Nov. 16.
PAI thanked Lacson, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando P. Diaz, and PAI Region 6 Director Jojo Quilop, for their commitment in strengthening regional sports development.
With the support of the Philippine Sports Commission headed by its Chairman Patrick Pato Gregorio and Lacson, the Panaad Aquatic Center will be the first regional training center for swimming in the country, Buhain said in the post.
PAI Technical Director Coach Richard Luna ensured that the competition at the Panaad met the standards of excellence upheld across all aquatic events nationwide, the post added.*