"How can we nurture promising athletes if the trainers themselves are being left unattended," rued Roa as he let his feelings go in an accidental meeting with this writer recently.
Among the teammates of Caloy "The Big Difference" Loyzaga in the once-fabled Philippine basketball team, the ageless Roa said he can't understand why the city legislators can't do something to increase the budget for CDO sports, which is way behind compared to other cities, when it is very important to improve the quality of athletes in the locality.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro learned the city's executive body has only P2.5 million allocation for its sports program this year, which is very unlikely for a "highly-urbanized" that is Cagayan de Oro.
Arguably the most veteran among the Asset mentors, Roa, however, acknowledged that City Mayor Constantino "Tinnex" Jaraula has been very supportive "only that there are certain people at the City Hall who are seemingly oblivious to the local sports' cause."
In fact, another City Hall insider -- who obviously did not want to be identified -- disclosed that if an early budget hearing at the local finance committee will have its way, the city's sports allocation next year would even sink a little instead of getting the needed increase.
"Sa panahon pa ni (Mayor Ambing) Magtajas P4,500 ang honorarium sa training director in Asset-basketball. Karon, P2,000 na lang. Now, what justice we can give to it (Asset trainors used to get much compensation during the time of Mayor Magtajas. Alas, it get worsened from now on)," Roa told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Roa further said the local finance committee and some of the City Councilors who are perceived to be "anti-sports" could not use as an alibi the alleged "financial bankruptcy" that hit the City Government coffer. "Kay nag-increase na ang uban nga departamento samtang ang kining sa sports gikibhangan na hinoon (Honorarium for sports trainors had declined when the rest of the city hall departments have already enjoyed an increase). There's a great disparity in this aspect," added Roa.
During the administration of Mayor (now city vice mayor) Dongkoy Emano, Barangay 06 chairman Mario Eronico once complained the city's program in Asset-boxing had to make do operating in P200,000 year-round budget when it used to have an allocation of P500,000, more or less, during the time of Magtajas.
"Except of the Ambing era, there must be a plague at the City Hall doom that threatens to annihilate the good thing that happens to human race that is sports development," one local sports leader observed.
