Participants from different units take part in the parade for the opening ceremony of the 2016 Cebu City Olympics at the Cebu City Sports Center. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
For the Cebu City Government, there’s no stopping the support for the city’s sports program.
This was what Cebu City deputy mayor for sports, Councilor Eugenio “Jun” Gabuya Jr., assured everyone during the opening ceremonies of the 26th Cebu City Olympics yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
Gabuya said he strongly believe that the existence of sporting events like the Cebu City Olympics help the youth become better citizens in the society, which is why the government will continue to support grassroots sports development in the city.
Gabuya was joined by councilor Hanz Abella, who is the chairman of the city council’s committee on education, and DepEd Cebu City Assistant Schools Division superintendent Dr. Danilo Gudelosao in yesterday’s event.
“We will continue to extend our support in all sport[ing] events in our city,” Gabuya said. “I believe that through sports, we can help the youth [become] better citizens.”
To prove that it is serious in its promise to support sports development in Cebu City, Gabuya revealed the reactivation of the Cebu City Sports Commission, which will start its regular session next week.
He said that Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña already signed the list of composition of sports that the commission will prioritize.
He said the commission proposed a P30 million budget for sports development for 2017. This budget was approved by Osmeña and was submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for approval.
“The budget includes the sports development program of the city as well as the grassroots development program, operations, materials and equipment,” said Gabuya.
Part of the budget is for the Cebu City Niños that will be sent to various regional and national meets such as the Batang Pinoy National Finals, the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association meet and the Palarong Pambansa.
The winning athletes in these weekend’s games that start today will get a chance to be part of that Niños team, but they will first undergo a selection process.
University of Cebu (UC) is the defending secondary champion while Unit 7, made up mostly of athletes from the University of San Carlos, is the reigning elementary title holder. Other schools in Unit 7 are University of the Visayas, Cebu Eastern College, Colegio del Santo Niño, Kiddie Haus, Ylac, Colegio dela Inmaculada Concepcion, St. Theresa’s College, among others.
Palarong Pambansa athletics gold medalist Samantha Jane Limos led the oath of amateurism, while the oath of coaches was headed by Punta Princesa softball head coach Maida Credo, whose team won the gold medal in this year’s Palaro. Palaro boxing silver medalist Edgardo Jimenez Jr. lit the Olympic urn to signify the start of the competition.