WHILE the opposition complains about the removal of its basketball boards by the City Government, the Cebu City Council last Wednesday approved the charging of P2.07 million for its MY CiTy sports program.

The amount will be used in the volleyball event, which offers P505,000 in total prizes for the barangays.

The City launched the sports project, which offers basketball for men and volleyball for women 18 years old and above, last Aug. 28.

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The opposition, though, sees the implementation of MY CiTy as a political strategy adopted in previous elections.

The acronym stands for Vice Mayor Michael “Mike” Rama, education consultant Joy Augustus Young, Rachel “Cutie” del Mar, and Mayor Tommy Osmeña, a potential congressional candidate.

City Councilors Lea Japson and Roberto Cabarrubias asked for the allocation, which includes P1.2 million for the uniforms, or P15,000 for each of the 80 barangays of the City.

Officiating fees were pegged at P125,500; tournament manager’s honorarium, P30,000; venue rentals, P160,000; and equipment, materials and trophies, P50,000.

Participating barangays are divided into 15 brackets, with the bracket champions receiving P5,000 each and second placers, P3,000 each, during the elimination.

In the quarterfinals, the six bracket winners get P10,000 each; second placers, P5,000. With the barangays divided into three districts, the district champions get P30,000 each; second placers, P60,000 each; third placers, P45,000; fourth placers, P30,000.

In the battle of district champions, the winner gets P40,000 while the second placer gets P30,000.

Japson and Cabarrubias asked that the P2.07 million be deducted from the P5 million included in the approved Supplemental Budget 6 as aid to the barangays.

Businessman Jonathan Guardo and Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos have said their sports programs were derailed by the administration, which deprived them of the use of the barangays’ gyms and open spaces.

Even the basketball boards they donated were removed and replaced with the city’s own.

Guardo and Osmeña are set to clash for the south district congressional seat that Rep. Antonio Cuenco will vacate after the May 2010 elections.

Despite pressure from the City, Guardo and de los Santos have said they will continue their sports programs in the barangays, which have been ongoing even before they declared their intent to run for public office.

De los Santos is expected to clash with Rachel “Cutie” del Mar for the north district congressional seat in the 2010 elections. (RHM)