AS CORDILLERA athletes vie for a better finish in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa, the Department of Education (DepEd) in the region has raised the incentives for medalists.
During a recent press forum, DepEd–Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) officials bared individual gold medalists for the upcoming Palarong Pambansa to he held April 16 to 20 in Ilocos Sur is set to receive P5,000 while the silver and bronze will get P3,000 and P2,000 respectively.
Last year, athletes cash incentives were at P3,000, P2,000, and P1,000 for gold, silver and bronze medalists.
Incentives for team events will be different, according to DepEd while coaches and trainors will also receive separate cash incentives.
DepEd–CAR deputy sports coordinator Georaloy Palao-ay said the higher incentives hopes to give athletes further motivation to improve their medal haul of 26 gold, 21 silver, and 21 bronze medal output in the 2017 edition of the annual sports meet for a decent sixth place finish over-all.
The region is hoping to surpass its fourth place finish in 2015.
Palao-ay said they are once again pinning their hopes on arnis, taekwondo, wushu, archery, and chess while team events such as football, futsal, basketball and batted balls have assured them of their improved performance.
“Our team events have promised they will deliver this time. Last year, our softball girls placed fifth and that’s already huge for the region. Hopefully they will be in the medal standings this year,” added Palao-ay.
With the moniker “Fearless Highlanders,” Palao-ay added this is the time for Cordillera sportsmen to become stronger and bolder for the Palaro.
Bulk of the athletes will be from Baguio City after lording the 2018 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) meet with 211 while Benguet has 86 as Abra and Ifugao added 54 and 36. Tabuk City and Kalinga is set to send 49 with Apayao sending 32 while Mt. Province has 21.
Ilocos Sur is expected to give student-athletes a unique experience during the Palarong Pambansa which coincides with the province's 200th founding anniversary.
Palarong Pambansa gathers more than 12,000 young Filipino athletes from all over the country, playing in different sports and disciplines to promote camaraderie and sportsmanship among students. Roderick Osis