THE Philippine Sports Commission has recommended to the Department of Education a separate medal tally for local government units in recognition of their contribution and support for student-athletes who will take part in the coming Palarong Pambansa set June 6 to 16 in Cebu City.
“We would like to respectfully recommend that aside from medal tally count by regions, there will be also a separate medal tally count ranking the participating Local Government Units (LGUS) in the said annual sports event,” PSC chairman Richard wrote DepEd Assistant Secretary Dr. Francis Bringas last March 7.
“The objectives (of the recommendation) of which are to duly recognize the contributions of participating LGUs and, most importantly, to further encourage and create a stronger bond between the LGUS and the public schools from where the student-athletes came from,” Bachmann explained in the correspondence obtained by Malaya-Business Insight.
“Hence, our end goal is to ensure that LGUs will provide stronger support for their student-athletes in the Palarong Pambansa,” Bachmann added.
The PSC chief pointed out that “by determining the LGUs of origin where the student-athletes came from, it would likewise be easier for (the) PSC to track the potential of each athlete and LGUs. The LGU ranking tally will further help the PSC to attend to the needs of the LGUs, taking into consideration the potential sports to be enhanced and developed in their respective localities.
“The proposed medal tally per LGUs is separate from the medal tally per Region to be released by the Palarong Pambansa Secretariat.”
Bachmann said the proposal of the PSC, a member of the Palarong Pambansa board, was in keeping with the government sports agency’s mandate of providing “unified and strategic policy directions to all national amateur sports events, particularly giving emphasis on grassroots participation.”
“With high hopes and spirits, the Commission is committed to providing our unwavering support and dedication for the Palarong Pambansa and for the betterment of our young athletes through the development and promotion of grassroots sports,” he stressed.
Over 16,000 athletes, coaches and officials from the country’s 17 regions are expected to take part in the sportsfest formally unfolding on July 9 at the Cebu City Sports Center Complex, marking the return of the meet that was held 30 years ago in the Cebu provincial capital.
