Grassroots program helps Cebu Province improve Cviraa placing
THE RECENTLY concluded Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) in the City of Naga, south Cebu saw the Cebu City Niños hog the limelight when they copped the overall crown for the 25th straight time.
While the Niños took the lion’s share of the attention in the multi-sporting event, another delegation also made some heads turn for an improved finish.
Athletes of Cebu Province also put in a performance worthy of recognition after they moved up from fourth place last year to second this year with a harvest of 37 gold medals, 41 silvers and 47 bronzes.
Last year, Cebu Province only had 28 golds, 36 silvers and 45 bronzes.
“It was by far our best finish, and the result has a lot to do with our training and strengthened grassroots program,” said lawyer Ramil Abing, executive director of the Cebu Province Sports Commission (CPSC).
Cebu Province finished second in the elementary division with 25 golds, 23 silvers and 22 bronzes, and ranked third—behind Cebu City and Mandaue City—in the secondary competition with 13 golds, 18 silvers and 25 bronzes.
“The governor (Hilario Davide III) allocated P8 million for our athletes in Cviraa. That greatly helped as we provided logistical and technical support to the Department of Education for the training of our athletes,” said Abing.
Medalists will be given due recognition in the coming days, Abing revealed.
“Governor’s medals will be given to our medalists, and we are still in talks whether or not to award cash incentives,” Abing added.
Most of the province’s medals came from athletics, where it finished with 14 golds, 13 silvers and seven bronzes.
“The training will continue. Some of our athletes are now preparing for the Palaro,” Abing said.
Cebu City was the runaway winner in the week-long event, collecting 144 golds, 64 silvers and 77 bronze medals.
Will Cebu Province stand a chance against Cebu City for the overall crown in the coming Cviraa meets?
“That is going to be a tall order considering the number of athletes that Cebu City has. Also, we have to improve in other events. Like in gymnastics, we didn’t get a single medal,” Abing said.
In this year’s Cviraa, Cebu City fielded in 880 athletes, while Cebu Province had 850.
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