In a successful year punctuated by two Tacurongnons bagging gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games, the city government increased its sports fund allocation to sustain its gains on sports and youth development.
This year, Mayor Angelo Montilla upped the budget for Youth and Sports Development Program to P7 Million recording an increase of P2 Million from last year’s P5 Million.
Apart from his aim of stepping up the city’s sports-related activities, Mayor Montilla has been inspired by the successful campaign of the local athletes in the previous year.
Aside from having five arnis players becoming part of the national team who eventually bagged medals in the SEA Games, student-athletes of the city also had successful stints in lower competitions.
In last year’s Palarong Pambansa, Tacurong’s arnis players contributed 15 out of the 26 gold medals for Region 12.
Yesterday, the mayor convened the members of the newly constituted City Physical Fitness and Sports Development Council to review last year’s programs as well as make plans for this year’s activities.
City Sports Coordinator Jorjohn Cajandig reported the previous year’s accomplishments and presented recommendations for this year.
City Schools Division Superintendent Miguel Fillalan, who also sits as council’s secretary general, also made recommendations to sustain the gains of the city’s sports programs.
He said that he is considering the inclusion of a sports track to the existing senior high school curriculum.
Fillalan also thanked the city government for its huge help to the schools division through the Special Education Fund.
Last year, the LGU has allocated P17 Million as SEF to the division to be used for its various programs.
Meanwhile, Mayor Montilla said that the city needs to continue its gains in sports development front, hence the increased budget this year.
“Let’s continue to improve our sports facilities and at the same time, make effort in protecting and promoting the welfare of our trainers”, he said.
On January 30-31, the city will launch its first Sports Summit, which aims to engage stakeholders from various sports disciplines and solicit their thoughts on how to enhance our current programs on youth and sports development. (ASF, LGU Information)