Cebu City Council okays P500T aid to Tabal

Celebrated Cebuana marathoner Mary Joy Tabal is set to receive P500,000 cash from the Cebu City government that she could use to finance her future trainings.

This after the City Council yesterday approved Councilor Jerry Guardo’s resolution that sought the granting of the financial aid.

Guardo is the deputy mayor on sports matters.

The amount will be sourced from the City Sponsored Activities fund and subject to Commission on Audit rules and regulations.

Guardo said the city is giving Tabal the hefty aid because she was a product of the sports program of the Cebu City government.

“We are happy she grabbed the gold medal. It was also mentioned by Mayor Tom (Osmeña) that he wanted to know how far Tabal can go,” he said.

Tabal, 28, is a native of Guba, a mountain barangay in Cebu City. Before competing at the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia last month, she had to face the odds after she was dropped from the roster of delegates days before the games.

She eventually won the gold in the women’s marathon in the biennial meet.

Guardo said the mayor will turn over the aid to Tabal possibly next week upon completion of necessary paperwork by the City Treasurer’s Office.

In a separate resolution he is expected to file on Tuesday, Guardo is also expected to detail the cash incentives the city government would extend to other Cebu City-based athletes who, just like Tabal, won medals in the SEA Games.

Kiyomi Watanabe may get P100,000 for winning gold in judo while Rheyjey Orouste may get P50,000 for bringing silver in sepak takraw.

James Delos Santos and Lois Kaye, who won bronze in karatedo and women’s individual stroke, respectively, may also receive P25,000 each.

Guardo said the amounts be charged against the discretionary funds of the mayor.