MAYOR EYES BALINGIT AS SPORTS CZAR
Basketball player Bonel Balingit can help get the youth to participate in sports activities, Mayor Osmeña says.
Saying he can help the Cebu City Government with his expertise, Mayor Tomas Osmeña is considering appointing retired professional basketball player Bonel Balingit to work for the City Sports Commission.
In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said the former athlete’s influence will help attract many kids to participate in sports activities.
“Kids are impressed when looking at a giant. We’re going to have many of our kids get involved in sports,” he said.
The mayor pointed out that part of the City’s plans to promote sports among youngsters is to put up multiple tennis courts, baseball courts and golf courses in the South Road Properties.
He said these sports are quite popular among the youth, but can’t be developed considering the limited space in the barangays.
Osmeña said, though, that he still has to discuss Balingit’s possible appointment with other members of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
If he is appointed, Balingit would be the fifth defeated BOPK candidate to work in City Hall.
The other appointees who also ran for a City Council seat in last year’s elections are Garry Lao, who will head the City Office for Substance Abuse and Prevention; Malou Tabar, who will head the City Tourism Commission; Nida Cabrera, who will head the City Environment and Natural Resources; and Alvin Dizon, who will head the City Anti-Discrimination Commission.
“We’re getting them as middle managers to bridge the link between the mayor’s office and the people below. They have to come up with ideas how to improve the system,” said Osmeña. /