Leyte shells out PHP3.5M for sports delegation

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 19 (PNA) – The provincial government of Leyte has shelled out PHP3.5 million in financial assistance to the 612-man Leyte delegation to the upcoming Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association (EVRAA) Meet in Ormoc City.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said he has placed so much faith in the sports development of the youth here in the region that the province has continuously supported its own athletes in any form of competition from the regional and even in the international level.

Petilla added that the province has maintained its sports program and has even made its stronger after Super Typhoon Yolanda damaged many of the province’s facilities, particularly the Leyte Sports Development Center where the state-run Leyte Sports Academy is housed.

“Our LSA athletes have continued to do well in national and international competitions proving that we are doing the right thing in training our athletes and making them more competitive in their chosen field,” Petilla said.

Close to 7,000 athletes and officials from the different provinces in the region are to vie in different sports. Leyte is sending 612-man delegation including athletes and officials. The athletes will compete in all the sports event according to Department of Education Leyte division physical education and school sports (PESS) coordinator Rodelia Orbino.

The 2016 EVRAA will run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2016 in different high-end sports facilities in Ormoc City.

From being in the bottom two places in the previous years, EVRAA delegation moved up to 14th place during the Palarong Pambansa in 2014 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. It further improved its standing to 11th place in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa in Tagum, Davao del Norte.

Petilla said he has high hopes that EVRAA will continue to move up in the overall national standing through continuous support by the local government and other sports agencies. (PNA)
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Ormoc fixes sports facilities for Php10M, allots Php3M to host regional sports meet

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Dec. 23 (PNA) - The city government here has begun construction works on the Php10.37 million sports facilities in preparation for Ormoc’s hosting of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Evraa) meet on Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, 2016.

Topping the list of projects is the rehabilitation of the grandstand which was severely damaged by super typhoon Yolanda at the cost of Php5.37 million.

The existing bleachers, a separate facility, will be improved for Php2.56 million. Both grandstand and bleachers are located at Ormoc City Central School.

On the other hand, bleachers will be constructed around the Olympic-size swimming pool at New Ormoc National High School at the cost of Php2,43 million.

The city government built the pool itself for Php21.9 million and was turned over to the Education Department early this year.

Meanwhile, the Local School Board chaired by Mayor Edward C. Codilla appropriated Php15 million for its priority projects in 2016. The amount will be taken from the 1 percent real property tax to be collected next year. Some Php3 million is allocated for expenses in hosting the regional sports meet.

In his speech at the opening of the City Division Athletic Meet last Sept. 24, regional sports coordinator Cesar Virunque said people of Ormocare are very lucky to have a generous and sports-oriented LGU for hosting the EVRAA during an election year.

“There is something different in Ormoc. Everytime we ask people in the region where they wanted to hold the EVRAA, many of [them] usually choose Ormoc as the host,” he said.

“This may be because of the ambiance of the place, considered as the gateway of the region from the west. Maybe because of the culture and values of the people here,” Virunque added. (PNA)
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