Coaches, athletes who won EVRAA medals to receive cash incentives
Councilor lauds mayor’s role in Ormoc victory
ORMOC CITY — Mayor Richard Gomez—during the victory party for the Ormoc City “Siglaro Elites” athletic delegation that won the championship in the 2018 EVRAA meet held in Calbayog City from February Q-10—announced that cash incentives will be given to each athlete who won medals, the winning teams and coaches.
As confirmed by City Councilor Vincent Rama, who authored the resolution that allotted more than P1 million for these cash rewards, the city government will give P5,000 for each gold medalist, P3,000 for silver medalist, and P2,000 for bronze medalist in individual sports.
For team events, P20,000 will be given to the team gold medalist, P18,000 to the silver medalist, and P15,000 to the bronze medalist. The winning coaches will also receive P3,000 each.
It was the first time that Ormoc City became EVRAA champion, grabbing the crown that was held by Leyte province for the past seven years, and going home with 109 golds, 56 silvers, and 7Q bronzes during the annual athletic event, participated in by 13 delegations around Eastern Visayas.
This prompted Rama to deliver a privilege speech during the City Council session on February 15, the day before the victory party, recognizing Mayor Gomez’s and the city’s athletic delegation achievement.
“Great moments are born from great opportunities; great heroes are made from how one responds to an opportunity,” was the opening statement of Rama in his privilege speech to laud the collaboration of the government and private partnership that resulted in the victory.
Rama said the road leading to Ormoc’s win was not accidental. “People may ask, how did the mayor do it? How did we do it? This formula is not fixed or ordinary. It is a formula based on physical structures, sports equipment, planning and responsive programs and human equations.”
It was the collaboration of the LGU, the Department of Education, and the private sector who were encouraged to take a role in crafting the city’s sports program and direction, the councilor said.
When Gomez assumed as city mayor, he immediately set the goal for Ormoc to become EVRAA champion. With the help of Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr. and the City Council, a budget was allocated to construct and improve sport venues.
Quality sports equipment were also acquired. “The mayor gave clear and direct guidance in acquiring sports equipment. He did not want people’s money to be wasted by buying substandard nor that of low quality equipment.”
The athletes and coaches were also trained in advance, “contrary to years of local practice of preparing only during the concentration period, by national athletes.
Rama said the “biggest aspect of the winning formula” was the human equation, as he acknowledged sports personalities in Ormoc—former PBA cager Rey Evangelista, private pool operator Engr. Ferdinand Sembrano, Atty. Ari Larrazabal, and others—who were tapped by Mayor Gomez to co-supervise the city’s sports program.
On February 16, a grand parade, led by Mayor Gomez and city officials, was held with the athletes, coaches and delegation officials, around the city. This was followed with a victory program and fireworks display, and the party in front of the City Stage.