The Cebu City Council approved a resolution granting P500,000 financial assistance for Cebuana Olympian and Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) gold medalist Mary Joy Tabal in support of her training for future races here and abroad.
Councilor Jerry Guardo, who sponsored the resolution, said the money will be given to Tabal next week. The aid will be charged under city-sponsored activities in the 2017 annual budget.
The city government commended the 28-year-old Tabal of Barangay Guba, Cebu City, for her gold-medal performance in women’s marathon in the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last month.
“We are happy she got the gold medal. The city government recognizes her [achievements],” he said.
Guardo assured that the city will continue to support Tabal’s “world-class talent,” saying it will continue to look for ways to help her in her quest for more international glory.
“Let us see what she can do next. We will always be there to support her needs,” he said.
Tabal, after winning the gold in Malaysia, said she is setting her sights on the Asian Games next year and ultimately at another shot in the Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo.
Tabal made history in 2016 when she qualified for women’s marathon in the Rio Olympics, making her the first Filipina to achieve such feat.
Aside from Tabal, Guardo said the city will also extend financial assistance to other Cebuano SEA Games medalists. These are Rheyjey Orouste, who won a silver medal in sepak takraw and Kiyomi Watanabe, who won a gold in karatedo. Guardo said he will pass the resolution for the other two medalists in the Council’s next regular session.