MANILA: The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will do its best to ensure the successful staging of the 11th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games from Dec. 1 to 5 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The assurance was made by PSC commissioner Walter Torres during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Tuesday. 'By history, BIMP-EAGA was a venue to help develop tourism, trade and investment among the member countries. Then sports became a factor when it was held in 1996 in General Santos City,' Torres said. 'And since the direction of Puerto Princesa is into sports tourism, it is also a big opportunity. The other countries will also have the opportunity to promote their activities like fiestas and celebrations, and promote their products whether in goods or services,' added Torres, a former fencer who saw action at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. At least 150 athletes and officials are expected t o participate in the tournament featuring sports, namely athletics, archery, badminton, karate, swimming, sepak takraw, pencak silat and esports. Torres, who is in charge of the Games, said Australia has been invited to join the event which was last held in 2018. Meanwhile, PSC chairman Richard Bachmann said the commission 'is here to ensure a good experience especially for our neighbors who are coming in.' Bachmann said he is batting for the inclusion of more events and sports than the eight in the BIMP-EAGA calendar "to give our athletes more opportunities to compete.' "It's a challenge but we want to make this bigger and better,' Torres added. Source: Philippines News Agency