LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A local legislator proposed the creation of a Benguet Sports Commission and the appropriation of funds for its operation to ensure the overall sports development provincewide.
Board member Nestor Fongwan, Jr. stated it will be a declared policy of the provincial government to promote physical education and encourage sports program, league competitions and amateur sports, including trainings for international competitions, to foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for a healthy and alert citizenry.
He added that subscribing to the International Charter of Physical Education and Sports of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the provincial government believes physical education and sports will contribute in inculcating fundamental human values in the full development of a person.
Further, the provincial government recognizes sports development will effectively address the need for a comprehensive grassroots sports program centered on values formation inherent in the practice of sports and play such as patriotism, nationalism, self-discipline, respect for law and order, hard work, teamwork, camaraderie, sportsmanship and fair play, thus, preventing a child’s chances of becoming a juvenile delinquent.
Under the proposed ordinance, the Benguet Sports Commission will be under the Provincial Governor’s Office tasked to formulate the Benguet sports development programs, conduct basic and applied research on sports development and other related activities, adopt a well synchronized year-round calendar of sports activities and competitions sanctioned by the concerned government agencies, promote, encourage and sustain sports training activities and development in the municipal and barangay levels, plan and implement an integrated program of physical fitness and amateur sports development for the province, invite and engage the services of consultants and experts for the various forms of sports activities and create action teams to supervise the different programs, recommend such incentives to deserving associations, athletes, referees, game officials, coaches and other persons or entities involved in supporting sports development, organize sports competitions, tournaments in the different barangays in the province, consult the provincial board on matters of funding and coordinate and assist the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in the implementation and monitoring of the sports for all program of the government.
Fongwan proposed that the provincial sports body will be composed of the Provincial Administrator; 3 representatives from the private sector provincial planning and development coordinator; Provincial Budget Officer; Provincial Sports Coordinator; provincial board Committee on Youth and Sports Development chairperson; provincial board Committee on Education chairperson; Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson for every municipality; Municipal Administrator of La Trinidad; Department of Education Benguet Superintendent, representative from the Benguet State University; representative from the Cordillera Career Development College; representative from the Kings College of the Philippines; representation from technical-vocational schools in Benguet and the Executive Director of the Benguet Provincial Sports Commission as ex-officio member.
By HENT
