BAGUIO CITY February 28 – The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) wants all local governments nationwide to be actively involved in grassroots sports development by tapping the skills of the out-of-school youth (OSY) to generate fresh talents that will represent the local governments in local, regional, national and international sports competitions.
PSC Commissioner Fatima Cecilia Kiram, who is the only woman commissioner of the prestigious sports body, said the Commission decided to increase the incentives of winning local governments in the Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games (PNG) to empower local governments to discover new young sports talents who can represent the country in future sports competitions.
Kiram turned over to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan a check amounting to P250,000 representing the city’s cash prize for being the overall winner in the 2016 Batang Pinoy games held in Tagum City, Daveo del Norte last December.
The first place winner in the Batang Pinoy games will now receive P500,000, P400,000 for the second placer, P300,000 for the third placer, P200,000 for the fourth placer and P100,000 for the fifth place winner.
For the Philippine National Games, the first placer will receive P5 million, P4 million for the second placer, P3 million for the third placer, P2 million for the fourth placer and P1 million for the fifth place winner.
Commissioner Kiram underscored the importance of enticing the youth in the grassroots level to deter them from being involved in illegal drugs that might compromise their bright future, citing that by being involved in sports, people can develop a sound mind and body that will help them hurdle the challenges they may meet, including illegal drugs, as they grow to become responsible and dedicated citizens of the community where they belong.
Kiram added the present administration has embraced a policy on grassroots sports development with the increase in the incentives of winners in recognized and accredited sports competitions and the formulation of more sports development programs that will allow the discovery of sports talents from the countryside.
She cited the sports programs being implemented by the local government that has helped earn the city top honors in the various sports competitions accredited by the PSC over the past several years, encouraging local governments to embark on a solid sports development foundation to discover future athletes of the country.**By Dexter A. See
