Bontoc, Mountain Province – Officials in this province have come up with a creative and unique approach to get the attention of the public and campaign for autonomy towards federalism.
Through the “Sports for Autonomy Relay Marathon towards Federalism”, seven male participants in each municipality garbed with G-string or “wanes” paired with a T-Shirt printed with “Sport for Autonomy” shall run passing through the route of the 10 municipalities of Mountain Province on March 22-27, 2018.
The relay marathon shall kick-off at Paracelis on March 22, going to Natonin in the morning of March 23 and to Barlig in the afternoon. In the morning of March 24, the runners shall continue the relay marathon going to the capital town Bontoc, and to Sadanga in the afternoon. In the morning of March 25, from Sadanga, the participants shall run passing through Bontoc going up to Sagada and shall continue to run going to Besao in the afternoon. The team will stay for the night in Besao and will proceed to Tadian in the morning of March 26 and then to Bauko in the afternoon of the same day. The team wiil stay in Bauko in order to rest for the run in the morning of March 27 going to Sabangan and go back to Bontoc in the afternoon of the same day.
According to Provincial Sports Development Officer Arnaldo D. Petten, this innovation to inform and educate the public at the same time to rally support for the quest for regional autonomy which should reach the grassroots. Thus, this sport activity to be spearheaded by the Provincial Government through its Provincial Sports Development Office (PSDO) in partnership with the Regional Development Council through the National Economic and Development Authority – Cordillera Administrative Region (NEDA – CAR) and in coordination with the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) representatives, PTA officers and members and municipal local government units (MLGUs).
Petten believes that there are different ways and means for everyone to get involved and do its share to rally support from the public.
“Every Cordilleran should do their share to campaign for autonomy. Thus, we are inviting male running enthusiasts to register in their respective municipalities and join us,” Petten added.
He explained that in every lap, each team shall have two regular runners while one shall be designated as an alternate runner who is only allowed to substitute a team mate who can no longer continue to run for whatever cause. The collective time of all runners will be computed to determine the fastest team and their rank. The name of the two runners and the alternate runner shall be submitted to the management in every lap.
During the duration of the marathon, all runners, IPs, PTA officers and municipal employees must assemble at every stop- municipality to meet with the respective mayors and conduct a forum on autonomy. The speakers will be from the IEC Provincial Task Force on Autonomy and Federalism of Mountain Province and from the trained speakers coming from the MLGUs.
Provincial Administrator Amador P. Batay-an, in a separate interview expressed high hopes that the new innovations to reach out to inform the public with regards to the salient features of autonomy will be effective.
Batay-an added that the provincial government welcomes new creative ideas on how to rally support from the public to campaign on autonomy, thus, the conduct of the relay marathon.
Further, he mentioned that this activity will not only campaign for autonomy towards federalism, but also, it will campaign for health and wellness through sports.
Thru the collaborative effort of all stakeholders, the NEDA- CAR recently approved the proposal of the provincial government to shoulder the meals, T-shirts and flaglets of the participants amounting to P301, 145.00; the provincial government committed to provide the cash prizes totalling to P137, 000.00, three management vehicles, fuel for the ambulance and police car; the MLGUs shall provide the vehicle, fuel and driver for their respective teams and shall provide for refreshments during meals.
The team-municipality who will be the champion in the relay marathon shall receive P25,000.00 as cash prize. The second place will receive P20,000.00 while P15,000.00 will be given to the third placer. A consolation prize of P11,000.00 each will be given to the participating municipality that will not make it to the Top 3. ** Alpine L. Killa, Mountain Province- PIO
