LEAGUE of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol mulls to lessen the number of athletic meets and pour more funds into sustainable sports programs instead.
Rather than drain the town’s resources in tentative activities that strain teachers and athletic coaches, Dagohoy Mayor Dr. Herminio Relampagos proposed to take go for only two meets in a year.
At the recent LMP Meeting held in Bilar last week, Dr. Relampagos was apparently following on the irritant issue of costly athletic meets that do not always produce the best athletes.
He cited that even with the meets, what are produced are athletes that are sent [to meets] for compliance and not because they are competent.
At the very least, Bohol athletes need to go through town, sub-congressional, congressional and provincial meets before they can represent Bohol to the regional athletic competitions, Relampagos explained.
All the hosted meet organizers turn to local government units for funds, which would sometimes be more that other budgets priorities allocated under the Special Educational Fund (SEF) mandatory, he told mayors.
He reiterated that by law, sports would only be the fourth priority in the SEF.
The SEF is where LGUS get funds to build class rooms, schools, fund repairs of school facilities and pay for the fund the salaries of contractual workers first.
On the other hand, Loon Mayor Lloyd Peter Lopez suggested that the provincial meet be done only once in every two years.
He explained that in the year when there isn’t a provincial meet, the training of the athletic pool would be done and funds be used in purchasing sports equipments which Bohol sports organizers lack.
LMP President Roberto Salinas however said the league would be inviting Department of Education superintendent and sports authorities during the next league meeting to consult on the twin proposals. (PIA)
