The Bacolod City government has allocated P17.3 million to cover the expenses of the 286 delegates to the Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur on May 24–31.
The assistance includes transportation allowance, accommodation, specialized sports shoes, and uniforms for the city’s 188 student-athletes, along with coaches, assistant coaches, chaperones, and trainers.
Each delegate will receive P4,000 in playing allowance, P6,000 for food, and P9,000 in training allowance, the city said.
“We consider this an investment in the future of our youth,” Mayor Greg Gasataya said at the signing of the memorandum of agreement on the city’s financial assistance with Dennis Develos, schools division superintendent of DepEd Bacolod May 8 at the Government Center.
He expressed hope that the next Olympian will come from the locality. “Bacolod will produce an Olympian, and we start by giving support from the grassroots level.”
The city government’s continued support for student-athletes started from the Division Meet up to this year’s Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet, where Bacolod emerged as overall champion.
Develos said the strong support from the city government is expected to further motivate the athletes to perform well and aim for more gold medals in the national competition.
“Given all of this, I don’t think they won’t get motivated to get a lot of golds which is definitely our goal for this year’s national competition,” he added.
The ceremonial send-off for the delegation is scheduled on May 15.
More than 600 student-athletes from the Negros Island Region and Siquijor are expected to compete in Agusan del Sur, with Bacolod leading the region’s campaign for victory in this year’s national tourney. ||
