Tubod hosts Mindanao sports summit

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte–This province, a host of past national sporting events, rekindles its love for sports as it holds a two-day sports summit starting today at the Mindanao Civic Center here.

No less than Philippine Sports Commission chair William "Butch" Ramirez heads a group of sports experts that would tackle topics like sports management, administration and values, sports science and medicine, talent identification and women and sports.

Host Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo and Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo lead attendees, who include members of the Sangguninag Panlalawigan, provincial and municipal sports coordinators, consultants, representatives from the DepEd, DSWD and DOH, and local coaches, trainers, officials and athletes.

A sports council would also be formed in the summit with Aliah Dimaporo, the Governor’s and Congressman’s daughter who has been active in promoting sports for peace program in the province, expected to lead it.

Ramirez said he would also put on the table the importance of sports as tool for peace and unity and grassroots development since some of the country’s past and present sports heroes came from the region.

"There are a lot sports heroes who came from Mindanao and we hope to keep on producing more," said Ramirez. "Of course, sports as a tool for peace is our main concern."

Joining Ramirez as speakers are Lyceum athletic director Tanny Gonzales, sports medicine experts Josephine Reyes and Dr. Raul Alcantara and PSC planning department head Malou Cantancio.

The main goal of the summit is to create a blueprint for Lanao del Norte’s sports development program believing that it can be the bastion for peace, unity and development not only in the province but the whole of Mindanao as well.

The Dimaporos are hoping to utilize the Mindanao Civic Center, which has been a host to past national sports events like the 2001 Mindanao Friendship Games and the 2003 Palarong Pambansa, a center for sports excellence in the region.