It is a given that when government spend resources on a sporting activity or event, the general main beneficiary will be the participating athletes.
This is the case of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Games.
It is a fundamental principle that spending government money should only be made if the object is to benefit a great majority of the general populace.
If the benefits of government spending is directed to only a few parts the society or one particular group at the expense of the society as a whole, the principle of taxpayer money being spent for the greatest good of the public in general is violated.
That’s why there will be uproars when government money is used to build a road will be leading to a property of just one individual, or if a building is constructed to accommodate a certain group of private businessmen, or an activity is financed for the benefit of a certain sect.
This is especially true for Local Government Units.
They don’t normally cater to sports activities that serve only a few. They would rather sponsor something that would cater to the needs of the majority like a zumba dance that would be open to the public for free with the objective of promoting exercise and good health.
It would be difficult to justify why a local government would spent money on an activity, whose benefits will not inure to most of their constituents.
Sports projects occurs once in a blue moon
Probably our being a third world country, government money are often devoted to projects that are primarily intended help avert and alleviate poverty, as well as national security.
That’s why we normally see politicians allocate funds to law enforcement, infrastructure and education
Not to mention that sports are not that really enticing to a politician’s career objectives, thus, it would have been understandable if only a few support programs that propagate athletics.
Sports projects and programs in the region normally have no place in the plans of elected public officials and LGUs. They are really hard to come by.
First and foremost, the region is not even in first base when it comes to sports promotions. There is a big hole when it comes to developing suitable sports facilities.
Sports facilities owned by the CAR government units are suspect. It was not so long ago when the tandem of Baguio and Benguet lost out to Ilocos Sur for hosting the 2018 Palarong Pambansa, probably because of venues facilities.
It should be noted the Palaro has never been held in the Cordilleras.
CAR is one of the regions where no sports, or even a multi-purpose, stadium that can accommodate at least 10,000 people is built, limiting the capability of any town or city to host a big event. Or to house a large number evacuees during big calamities, such as the one brought about by Taal Volcano eruption.
There is no structure in the region that has the ability to host a PBA game. Is it feasible for a Baguio or Benguet-based MPBL Team to become a reality? Lack of suitable venue and suspect fan following are clearly pointing to a ”no” answer.
Cordillerans’ dreams of CAR hosting a ONE Championship event to go along with the fact that the premier gym of Filipino champions, Team Lakay, is located in this place will be just that, a dream, because of venue issues.
Cordillerans are often in good physical shape
Promotion of sports as a tool of staying in shape is not a good option in the Cordilleras because Cordillerans normally don’t have problems staying in shape. They already have their own brand of sports: farming and, before stronger regulation took place, mining.
These two major industries in the Cordilleras demand strenuous physical ability from an individual. Of course, the Cordilleran farmers and miners have to acquire this attribute if they are to place food on the table for their families.
And because of these conditions, the Cordilleran government would not want to give their farming and mining population more tiring physical activities. I’m sure these sectors don’t crave for more activities of this kind.
Exemptions to the rule
It’s a wish that politicians would make exemptions to the priority rule.
There are cases worthy of these exemptions.
Like Carl Jammes Martin. Government money spent to help in the training of this guy might be justified. Yes, it is a gamble… But if it turns out that he is indeed the next Manny Pacquiao, imagine what his popularity would do to an already iconic tourist spot Ifugao which boasts of the rice terraces!
We have just reported a week ago of a young Apayao lass, Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, who is poised to make a run at the FIDE rankings. If she goes to the international level, Apayao generally follows her trail.
Another case are Mountain Province’s baseball team called Ganduyan Bucks. They have beaten some four foreign teams in a recent tournament and place second. We are wondering whether they can take it to another level.
Could some of them have the chance to infiltrate Major League Baseball, one of the most financially lucrative paying sports in the United States, someday?
We wouldn’t know unless we see them put efforts to try to. The Mountain Province government and its leaders may have to ponder on this.
They are one of the provinces where a baseball field with world class dimensions could be accommodated. If they build one and maintain it regularly, these kids can use it for practice and they could entice teams from other places to rent it or used it for their tournaments that could generate income for the province.
Lobbying for funding and spending them for venue and training support in support of local athletes who has potential to compete at an international level might eventually pay off.
Improbable but not impossible
Spending government money for sports is difficult to justify but also not improbable to execute.
There are creative ways to spend resources to structures, activities and programs that will cater to a specific athlete and the general populace at the same time. Coupling sports events with tourism, which has been already practiced before, is one of them.
It will take a one of a kind politician to make sports become part of an LGU’s annual budget to improve fan following in local sporting events.
But it is also not impossible to find one.
Let’s, however, temper expectations on outrageous spending government money on sports.
As said, even making a tiny trickle of taxpayer money dedicated to sports into reality is more complicated than the perception of the ordinary sports fan and athlete.
By ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS
