The PTA held its annual national instructors General Assembly in Manila ©PTA

The Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) discussed its plans and programmes for 2017 at its annual General Assembly at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

More than 700 national and regional head instructors from all over the country participated in the meeting, which was backed by SMART Communications and the MVP Sports Foundation.

The Assembly discussed the PTA's plans and calendar of events for 2017, and reviewed the performance of the organisation in 2016.

The Assembly covered the governing body's accomplishments last year, and its preparation for this year’s national and international events.

The most important of these is the 29th Southeast Asian Games, in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur in August. 

According to the PTA there are more than one million people practicing taekwondo in the country ©Getty Images
According to the PTA there are more than one million people practicing taekwondo in the country ©Getty Images

The PTA was established in 1976 to promote the Korean martial art in the country.

According to the PTA, taekwondo has become the number one martial art in The Philippines, with more than a million people participating in the sport with a network that spans 19 regions.

The Assembly was followed by a refresher course on the new World Taekwondo Federation officiating rules, as well as the updated techniques for poomsae and sparring events.