BAGUIO CITY – A town mayor in Benguet, who is also a karate instructor and practitioner, hopes to increase the incentives given to athletes representing the province.
The provincial ordinance provides for a PHP3,000 allowance to all athletes leaving for a competition.
“We will try to work out on improving the athletes’ condition through incentives so that they will be enticed to represent the province in regional, national and international competitions,” outgoing Buguias Mayor and Board Member-elect Ruben Tindaan said in an interview on Friday.
He noted that many athletes in the province are lured by other local government units because of monetary incentives.
“Nakakatulong din kasi sa kanila kapag nananalo sila at nakaka-receive ng incentive dahil mahal din ang training fee, uniform at iba pa na mga pangangailangan para maka-prepare sa (The money they receive as incentives when they win helps them finance their training, uniform and other needs to prepare for a) competition,” he said.
He said that while they cannot compel a Benguet resident studying in Baguio to represent the province or vice versa, they hope that an increase in incentives from the local government will be enticing and motivating for athletes.
“Mahirap din mag training, dire-diretso yan at may gastos talaga. ‘Yung iba na athletes hirap din sa panggastos at malaking bagay ang naibibigay sa kanila kaya nagpupursige pa sila ng husto (It’s not easy to train continuously and it is expensive. There are some athletes who are really hard up and it will be a big help for them to pursue training),” he added. (PNA)