Saturday, March 29, 2008 Cordi Palaro delegates need P7 million
CORDILLERA athletes joining this year's Palarong Pambansa delegation in Palawan will need P7 million for expenses, with fingers crossed that more medals will be won.
Education Regional Director Benito Tumamao said the agency has allotted P3.7 million for the region's delegates. The National Palaro Board will provide the needed amount to complete the budget for the region.
A total of 482 athletes, officials and coaches comprise this year's Cordillera delegation, which will be held next month in Puerto Princessa, Palawan.
Athletes from the region are participating in 32 games -- 17 in the high school level, with 178 athletes to participate in 15 games, and 153 additional athletes in the elementary level.
Although the region will not be represented in some sports, Tumamao is optimistic that the athletes will bring back medals in the games they excel in. Combative sports such as taekwondo and arnis are among the sports where Cordillera athletes win medals.
He said for this year, the delegation will bring its own personnel to man the kitchen for the athletes.
"In the past years, we spend P200 for every athlete through catering services, but we realized that we could save half or P100 per person if the delegation manages its own kitchen, aside from the fact that we are assured of the quality of food for our athletes," Tumamao said.
The Cordillera delegation will leave on April 11 to accustom the athletes to the area, Tumamao said.
"We have a better chance of improving our performance and bringing home medals this year," he said. (JC)
