UNOPPOSED candidate lawyer Eduardo Estores of Mats College of Technology was elected and installed as the new president of the Southern Mindanao Judo Association (Philippine Judo Federation Davao Region) during an assembly and election of new set of officers held at Seda Abreeza Hotel Saturday afternoon.
PJF national president David Carter and national general secretary spearheaded the conduct of the election that was also witnessed by PJF national chairman Nestor Ma and Ronnel Abrenica, senior executive assistant of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez, who administered the oath of the elected officers.
Also elected and installed were Edwin Pelaez of the University of Mindanao (UM), vice president; Janina Marinessa Maelwas (Mats), general secretary; Jesus Ralota III, general treasurer; Mariano Barayuga of the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), sports director; Juanito Estimada (UM), referee director; John Ross Aseneta (HCDC), education and kata director; and Reynaldo Arañas, marketing director.
The Davao Central College and Kolehiyong Pantukan were also represented during the election.
The newly-elected and installed officers will serve a term of four years.
Carter said he hopes for an improved judo development in the grassroots in Davao Region as businessman-sportsman Ma, who hails from Davao City, has offered a portion of his building at Diversion Road in Maa as judo regional training center.
"We are truly blessed to have an action man in Ma who committed to help in the promotion of judo in the country," Carter said, also citing Ramirez for letting him know Ma.
Ma, for his part, added that the judo regional training center will be open to all judokas and that he will work with Carter to further develop the sport in the countryside.
Abrenica said that the PSC will give its full support to the new set of judo's regional officers.
He also bared that Davao City has been eyed as a satellite training center of the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) that was re-launched last January 16, Monday, at the PhilSports Multi-Purpose Arena in Pasig City.