The Benguet provincial board has passed on third and final reading an ordinance that establishes the provincial sports development council.
Board Member Nestor Fongwan, Jr., author of the ordinance, said the sports council will oversee the training of athletes to prepare them to compete and excel in provincial, regional, and national competitions.
“The province has fostered excellent athletes who triumphantly competed in various local and international competitions, either as amateur or professional athletes. With the support from the local government unit, they can go an extra mile as sports icons for the younger generation to follow,” Fongwan said.
The sports council, which shall be under the Governor’s Office, shall formulate the Benguet sports development program that would create plans and oversee its implementation.
The council shall conduct basic and applied research on sports development and adopt a year-round calendar for sports activities and competitions culminating in the Palarong Pambansa.
These sports events are either sanctioned by the provincial government such as those held during the Adivay Festival celebration or activities by the municipality or by the Department of Education and other government agencies and private organizations.
The council shall also engage the services of consultants and experts for the various forms on sports activities; create action teams to supervise the different programs; and to recommend incentives to deserving associations, athletes, referees, game officials, coaches and other persons or groups involved in supporting sports development.
It shall also coordinate and assist the Philippine Sports Commission in the implementation and monitoring of its “Sports for All” program.
Those who will be tapped to teach, coach, and administer the sports development activities must have appropriate qualification and training. There shall be a list of experts and training per sports discipline that would be maintained to establish a pool of sports experts that could be tapped for the various sports programs.
The sports council shall also recommend to the provincial government the needed funds for the purchase of sports facilities and equipment to meet the needs of the program.
The ordinance also includes the integration of sports medicine and physical fitness evaluation in the individual sports programs of the various organizations.
The provincial sports council will also be responsible in developing data bank records section and sports library to help in the proper documentation, records management, and in conducting research relative to sports, marketing of sports and promotion through the media for the recognition of the various sports individuals and groups.
The council shall be led by the provincial administrator as chairperson and co-terminus with the governor appointing them. The members are five representatives from the private sector, SP committee chair on youth and sports development, SP chair on education, provincial planning and development coordinator, provincial budget officer, DepEd Benguet superintendent, provincial sports director of the Benguet provincial sports council, and head of secretariat.
Other members are representatives from Benguet State University, Cordillera Career Development College, King’s College of the Philippines, and from vocational schools in Benguet.
For the implementation of the ordinance, the provincial government shall appropriate the amount of P1 million. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 23, 2024
