Then athletic director of the University of the Cordilleras hopes that the Private School Athletic Association meet held every April should be among the city recognized sporting events just like the Palarong Pambansa or Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association meet and where athletes are encouraged to join.
“I made that request when the city was deliberating on the Sports Development Code, but I failed to attend,” Cong-o told the RNG Luzon in a private message.
The sports code passed last Monday after nearly 17 months of deliberations and revision to include suggestions and even aspirations of all concerned sectors has recognized the following sporting events: “Palarong Pambansa, Baguio Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL), Cordillera Administrative Region Tertiary Association Games (CARTESA), CHED games, Batang Pinoy, LuzViMin friendship games, Philippine National Games (PNG), sports tourism events (Panagbenga sports events, SumVac sports events, Baguio Charter Day sports events, Mr. Baguio Day bodybuilding competition, National Bike Day, Independence Day sports events), sectoral sports, Association of Barangay Council’s sportsfest, SK Federation sportsfest, Baguio Sportswriters Association Awards Nights, Kafagway Sports Awards, and other special events promoting sports under the sponsorship of the city government or sanctioned by concerned sports agencies/committees.”
“Until the Commission on Higher Education revive the CHED National Games, the PRISAA is the college counterpart of the Department of Education organized Palaro,” argued Cong-o.
But chief author councilor and Sangguniang Kabataan chair Levy Lloyd Orcales is receptive to the suggestion of Cong-o, admitting that they might have forgotten to include the PRISAA.
“We can make some amendments anyway,” the councilor told RNG Luzon in private message.
Paul Rillorta of City Sports and Recreations Office said that the PRISAA might be bunched with sporting events for the tertiary level like the CAR Tertiary Association Games, among others.
“But then this is a private undertaking and it is the school that is represented. We can give assistance though,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rillorta sees a bright future for Baguio sports that will help athletes improve their skills and hopefully see better results during competitions.
This is a result of the passage of the sports code which his office helped prepare and revise. Moreover, sports facilities particularly at the Baguio athletic bowl are being implemented.
“With the sports and youth complex, we expect to see a vast development in skills of our athletes,” he said.
