A NEW and improved Sports Development Division-City Mayors Office (SDD-CMO) Summer Sports Festival, dubbed as "Summerfest 2017", will kick-off on May 24 at the Davao Crocodile Park grounds.
SDD-CMO executive program directors Cindy Cruz-Enerio and Pocholo Elegino presented this during Thursday's Davao Sports Writers Association (DSA) Forum held at The Annex of SM City Davao.
Enerio said the office revised the concept of the annual event, focusing more on outdoor and exciting activities that would divert the children's interest.
"This is the first time that we will have a week-long event and making all sporting events staged in one venue since we want to avoid redundancy compared to the previous events wherein focused on indoor events like basketball etc.," Enerio said, adding that this year’s edition will feature frisbee, football, obstacle course, drone racing, trail running, wall climbing criterium cycle race, rugby football and aero marathon.
Elegino, for his part, said the P1.7 million sportsfest expects some 1,000 participants from different areas within Davao City but will depend on the guidelines of the City Social Services and Development Office (CCSDO) for the qualifications of each participant.
"This also aims to provide an avenue for our out-of-school youth (OSY), children in conflict with the law (CICL) and children of drug reformists as part of SDD-CMO officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera's program at the City Anti-Drug Council (Cadac)," said Elegino who urged walk-in participants to join the annual event that also aims to give back to the city's community.
The free-registration activity will also feature sports clinics, seminars and mini-competitions.
“We’re still on the stage of coordinating with the national sports associations (NSAs) on coaching and officiating,” Elegino added.
Since the venue is not accessible to everyone, Elegino said the office will try to set an arrangement with participating barangays.
“We will still talk to barangay officials regarding transportation but there will be free meals for all the children,” he said.