BAGUIO CITY – Additional guidelines were adopted on the grant of incentives and assistance to athletes, coaches and associations.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan issued an administrative order to clarify rules covering “exceptional athletes who are neither residents of nor students enrolled in any school who, by their affiliation with local sports clubs or organizations in the city, contribute to the overall development of particular sports disciplines by providing transfer of knowledge to local athletes, which ultimately inure to the benefit of the City, its residents and students.”
As per the added guidelines for national competitions, athletes of said category may only be allowed by the City Government to participate in national competitions if there are no other qualified athletes categorized as residing or studying in the City of Baguio.
They will be entitled to incentives under Ordinance Numbered 20-16 only when they are expressly allowed by the city government to participate in national sports competitions and provided, their respective accredited clubs, gyms or organizations certify that, as members thereof, they have contributed in the transfer of knowledge to other members of said clubs, gyms or organizations.
They may be considered as attached athletes under Resolution No. 1-16 of the City Sports Promotion and Development Council where there are other qualified athletes to fill up available slots in the Baguio City delegation and provided said athletes may be considered as regular members of the delegation only in the event that there are no other resident athletes or students qualified for slots.
In no case will athletes under this category deprive qualified athletes who are residents and/or studying in the city of cash assistance, allowances or support.
Coaches who will be found to be redistributing allowances of athletes who are residents of and/or studying in the city will, after due process, be delisted from the roster of accredited coaches on the ground of misrepresentation.
For international competitions, the additional rules will be:
*Only athletes and coaches who are residents or studying in the city will qualify for incentives to ensure whatever benefits shall inure solely to the city and its residents, recognizing the fact that some athletes are merely training in the city but are otherwise studying or domiciled elsewhere, without any intention to represent the city in their athletic endeavors;
*Athletes and/or coaches participating in the international competitions, as defined under Ordinance No. 20-16 should be part of the official roster of national team players and coaches of the Philippine Sports Commission-accredited National Sports Associations (NSA), who have undergone tryouts and/or selection process to be part therefor. For this purpose, the athletes or coaches should provide the appropriate certifications from their respective NSAs that they are bona fide national athletes or coaches. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
