Naujan steps up

NAUJAN, Oriental Mindoro – The next sports hotbed in the Philippines may very well be this, the largest local government unit in all of Oriental Mindoro. The sprawling first-class municipality of Naujan has the one thing that everyone needs to be a powerhouse in sports: land. Lots of it, over 50,300 hectares spanning 70 barangays. And the current local chief executive intends to push local sports to the elite level. Mayor Joel Teves, a long-time public servant and former vice-mayor, donated land for the construction of the first competition track oval and grandstands in the town. The provincial government allocated funds, and the project was just recently completed. It is a well-designed, international-standard track. And to illustrate the seriousness of the municipal government in pursuing sports development, the new municipal hall sits right beside the spanking new tartan track.

“I really want to develop sports in Naujan,” Teves, a high school athlete, told The STAR. “There are many popular sports like basketball and others.  We’ve been third in taekwondo in MIMAROPA. But I want us to be eventually be number one.”

Speaking of MIMAROPA, Naujan is hosting the next regional meet (MRAA) with the province through Gov. Humerlito Dolor, hoping to make a mark. A new basketball court and, within the year, a new competition swimming pool, puts the town in a position to bid for a future Palarong Pambansa. Teves has also contacted potential consultants from Metro Manila to help develop sports training programs and other projects. Naujan Lake, the fifth-largest in the country, is untouched and shielded from storms, perfect for aquatic sports. The expansive coastline, bordered by four other towns, is perfect for beach sports and sports tourism. The hilly periphery provides inviting outdoor sports activities.

Teves spent the early days of his term addressing the biggest issues of Naujan: flooding caused by a previous administration’s drilling into the massive Mount Halcon. This was what the town became known for. But Teves, a self-made man who has managed to cultivate connections for decades, was able to raise billions of pesos to propel a mega dike project into reality. On top of this, a 68-kilometer elevated road dike will help permanently solve the problem. Having solved this imposing, permeating problem, Teves can now focus on economic, tourism and sports development projects. Often, to skirt government red tape or accelerate a project, he uses his own funds, regardless whether or not he gets reimbursed.

In the next few years, expect a boom in sports in Naujan. The track oval, basketball gym and swimming pool are just the beginning. Plans are afoot for sports tourism destination. Behind all that, Teves has been tirelessly addressing the upgrading of the road network in his massive territory, and taking care of basic services. With infrastructure in place, the work can begin on creating sports training programs, grassroots development, and implementing best practices from other places. With Teves dealing with national figures with the political and economic muscle to help his vision manifest, Naujan will inevitably jump to the forefront of sports in the Philippines.