Parents of athletes participating in the Cebu Provincial Sports and Cultural meet in Carmen town northern Cebu are complaining about the status of their billeting area in the neighboring Compostela town.
Cebu Daily News learned about this when one of the guardians of the athletes named Boy Aguerre, who is at the Compostela Elementary School, sent a text message complaining about their present condition.
In the text message, Aguerre cited the poor condition of the billeting area.
“The parents and athletes are complaining because we are not given a good place to stay most especially athletes from Minglanilla,” the text message read. “We don’t have water to drink and the comfort rooms are not [useable] because [there is no] water supply. How can an athlete do well if they are in this condition?”
Aside from this, he also said that their area is so far from the venues of the sporting events. Compostela is around 20 kilometers from Carmen, where the games are being held.
Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) staff Brando Velasquez confirmed that there are some billeting areas that are far from the venue.
“Yes there are some who are far from the venue because there are a lot of sports events and participants involved. The Department of Education (DepEd) is responsible for the billeting quarters,” Velasquez said.
CDN told DepEd Sports coordinator Nenita Jaralve about the issue and asked this writer to tell the delegation head to contact them as soon as possible so the issue can be addressed.
“So far in Carmen, everything is good,” she said. “Please let the head of the delegation communicate us so we can address their concerns” Jaralve said.
Balamban leads
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Balamban hauled a total of seven golds, one silver and two bronze medals to take the early lead in the medal standings of the multi-sporting meet.
Balamban got four golds from secondary players Maria Pineda (3000 meter run), Princess Jean Nalzaro (100 meter hurdles), Jean Noval (8-ball billiards) and the Balamban Corps (Drum and Lyre Corps).
Their elementary squad snagged three golds courtesy of Jonel Bacat (400 meter run), Kent Gabino (1500 meter) and Kim Yamido (taekwondo girls).
Currently in second is the Municipality of Sta. Fe with five golds, four silvers and five bronze medals while the defending champion Daanbantayan is at third with five golds, two silvers and six bronze medals.
Action continues today as more than 50 events have yet to be played in the tournament which is set to conclude this Sunday.