CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved the ordinance that Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. has authored institutionalizing the grassroots sports development programs as well as providing funds for them.
Gabuya's ordinance aims to identify, train, and create pool of the city's young athletes and get them involved in competitive sporting activities and events.
Another aim of the ordinance is to harness the talent of the young athletes to possess the qualities, abilities, and physiological-psychological potentials to level up and prepare them for the national and international sports tournaments or competitions.
It has also a goal to develop a mindset among the young athletes that being fit is not just about muscles, speed, and stamina. It is also about determination, discipline, and dedication.
"These attributes make for mental toughness, and help the children overcome unexpected adversities," read the ordinance.
The program, which is offered for free, requires the participant or trainee to be a resident of Cebu City; at least six to 25 years old; certified by a government physician to be physically fit to undergo his or her chosen sports programs or trainings; willing to become volunteer junior trainers in his or her field for 40 hours per year.
The huge success of the Cebu City's Dancesport Grassroots Program introduced by Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco and his wife, Eleanor, gave birth to the grassroots sports programs in 1998.
Hayco, who was present during the City Council's regular session last Wednesday, said that nine out of the 19 Cebuano gold medalists on the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games were nurtured from the grassroots programs.
"Some of them were street children, some of them were out of school youth, some of them were scavengers," said Hayco.
"Our grassroots program has a very simple concept. It has become not just an advocacy in the city, but a movement... from going through four administrations and four mayors," he added. (FREEMAN)