BAGUIO CITY — The Summer Capital will aim for its fifth consecutive Batang Pinoy crown as the national youth sports meet for athletes 12 to 17 years old unfolds Nov. 24 in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong sent off the city's delegation composed of 625 athletes who will carry the city's colors in a total of 30 events that will run until Nov. 28.

The mayor, along with Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, Councilors Isabelo Coasalan and Jose Molintas, and other city officials, also joined the team during the parade and opening program held Nov. 23.

Baguio's most bemedaled archery athlete, 15-year-old Chass Mhaiven Nawew-Colas, led the oath of sportsmanship during the opening program. Nawew-Colas powered the city's campaign last year with a 5-1-1 gold-silver-bronze medal haul.

Batang Pinoy is the major grassroots program of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) by virtue of Executive Order 44-1998.

The PSC said around 12,000 delegates from 177 local government units are expected to see action in 30 sports events, namely archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball 3x3, beach volleyball, boxing, breaking, chess, cycling, dancesport, futsal, gymnastic, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, kurash, lawn tennis, muay thai, obstacle course, pencak silat, sepak takraw, soft tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.