GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/08 March) — The city government has allotted around P3.54 million for the training of athletes from parts of Region 12 who will be competing in the upcoming 2015 Palarong Pambansa.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Monday such appropriation was based on a request earlier submitted by the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 12 for the training and other expenses of the Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) delegation for the upcoming Palaro.
He said the local government provided for such funding being the host of this year’s edition of the SRAA meet.
The city also serves as host and venue for the training of SRAA athletes who qualified to the national games, which is slated in Tagum City on May 3 to 9.
“The financial support will not only benefit players of the city but of other participating delegations in the region as well,” Rivera said.
The city’s athletic delegation emerged last month for the third year in a row as overall champion of the SRAA meet.
For the regional meet, the city government had released some P300,000 for the training expenses of the city’s athletic delegation.
Under its expanded sports program, the city government had provided support to professional and non-professional or amateur athletes from the area.
New breed of champions like boxer Marvin Sonsona and taekwondo jin Jean Pierre Sabido gained their momentum through support from the city government.
Young athletes like Reynaldo Templado in table tennis were given the opportunity to vie in various international competitions like the South East Asian Games.
“It’s money well-spent. Supporting people who give pride to GenSan is something money can’t compensate,” the mayor said.
Dr. Allan Farnazo, DepEd Region 12 director, expressed confidence over the SRAA delegation’s performance in the upcoming Palaro with the financial support from the city government.
“For the first time, we will be training our athletes without any problem as to where we will get the needed funds,” he said.
The official said the financial support will cover for the food, toiletries and allowances of the SRAA athletes during their training for the Palaro.
He said they have scheduled the intensive regional training from March 28 to April 28 at the Antonio Acharon Sports Complex in Barangay Calumpang here.
SRAA is targeting to improve this year its seventh place finish in the 2014 Palaro and total medal haul of 15 golds, 17 silvers and 30 bronzes. (MindaNews)
