Lanao to develop own national athletes

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo yesterday vowed to pool all the province’s resources to help identify and train athletes, who could be tapped and developed into international-caliber competitors.

"After constructing a sports facility that is one of the country’s best and hosting some national events, I still feel it’s still not yet complete," said Dimaporo, who arrived yesterday from Manila in time for the two-day sports summit here.

"Our dream is to have an athlete who is from Lanao del Norte whom we could really be proud of," she added.

Dimaporo was one of the speakers at the summit, the first in the province, which drew 15 of the 22 municipal mayors, their sports coordinators, coaches and trainers.

Philippine Sports Commission chair William "Butch" Ramirez said the PSC will provide materials for the sports program this province will put into blueprint today.

"We actually don’t have a unified sports program and we’re starting here in Lanao del Norte for others to follow," said Ramirez, who was bestowed the title of Datu Bantugan VII for helping put the province in the national sporting map.

Other speakers were Dr. Raul Alcantara (sports medicine, nutrition and rehabilitation), Josephine Reyes (Talent Identification), Cayetano Gonzales (sports management, administration and values), Marilou Cantancio (women in sports) and summit facilitator Aliah Dimaporo (the province’s programs). — Joey Villar