The Philippine Sports Commission and the provincial government of Ifugao signed a memorandum of agreement on May 12 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila for the conduct of PSC’s Laro ng Lahi sa Ifugao scheduled on May 26 to 28 in Lagawe.
The PSC was represented by Women in Sports Program Oversight Commissioner Olivia Coo and Commissioner Edward Hayco.
Ifugao Gov. Jerry Dalipog joined them in the signing ceremony.
“After a series of coordination meetings in the province, we are happy that our inaugural leg will finally push through. We are thankful to Gov. Dalipog for this partnership,” said Coo.
“This is the first time. It will definitely help our province, and makakatulong sa ating kabataan in their physical and mental health,” said Dalipog.
For its inaugural year, PSC’s Laro ng Lahi sa Ifugao will feature five regular sports namely boxing, wushu, wrestling, weightlifting, and taekwondo, including nine indigenous games namely labba race, guyyudan, kadang-kadang, dopop di babuy, munbayu, hanggul, huktingan, bultung, and dopap di manuk.
The national sports body aims to support and help Ifugao develop its local sports program. Laro ng Lahi is open to all interested youths, including out of school youths and members of the indigenous community in the province.
Coo also believes the upcoming project will be a good avenue to discover potential national athletes and to strengthen the national training pool.
“Most of our successful national athletes are homegrown talents from the provinces. With this Laro ng Lahi, we aim to further widen our talent pool especially in female athletes across the country,” Coo added.
Also present du-ring the MOA signing were PSC Deputy Executive Director Anna Christine Abellana, Philippine long jump queen and WIS consultant Elma Muros-Posadas, while Mayor Gaspar Chilagan, Jr. and Executive Assistant Agustin Calya-en represented Ifugao. – PSC release
