BAGUIO CITY– The city government will spend some P8.3 million from its approved P2.255 billion annual budget next year for the 2020 edition of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) to be played in different playing venues around the city.
The budget for the hosting of the CARAA will only be some P8.3 million based on the updated budget proposal from the Department of Education–Division of City Schools during the regular session of the local legislative body.
Earlier, the education department proposed some P15.5 million as the total expenses the city government will need to host next year’s regional athletic competition thus some P15 million was included in the proposed annual budget of the city for next year as this was not included in the earlier computations for the 2020 budget.
However, city officials urged the education department to take a second look and review the items which can be reduced and some items were eventually scrapped from the original proposed CARAA budget.
The city legislative body decided to include the P1.6 million from the P10 million earlier proposed by the executive department for the city’s hosting of the CARAA to the capital outlay of the body specifically to be used for the purchase of an added service vehicle for the members of the council.
The education department was required by the City Council to turnover to the City General Services Office the units of portable sound system, sports equipment, among others, that will be purchased for the CARAA for safekeeping and for future use of the city.
The city government spent more than P12 million when the city hosted the CARAA in 2017 before the regional sports competition was hosted by Abra in 2018 and Apayao in 2019.
Local government units comprising the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) take turns in hosting the aforesaid competition but Baguio City already declined the hosting of the sports meet in 2021 and 2022 for the other provinces and cities to experience hosting the competitions.
It is in during the CARAA that athletes are selected from the region to represent the region in upcoming national sports competitions, such as the Palarong Pambansa which will be held in Davao City in April or May next year, among other similar competitions sanctioned by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Baguio City emerged as the overall champion in most of the regional sports competition conducted in the different parts of the region over the past several decades.
Aside from the funds that come from the city government, the education department also earmarks a certain amount to help in defraying additional administrative expenses for the hosting of the said competition which is expected to bring over 7,000 athletes and officials from provinces and cities, an added boost for economic activities for the host local government.
By Dexter A. See
