Sports and youth cmte tackles Batang Pinoy 2024, SK Budgets

On September 10, the Committee on Sports and Youth Development, chaired by SK Federation President Kenneth John Sacala, convened to address key issues, including the city’s participation in the upcoming Batang Pinoy National Championship 2024, scheduled for December 15-21 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The nationwide competition, which is open to athletes aged 17 and below, has introduced a new age bracket of 12-17 years old this year. This change has raised concerns among parents of younger children who had participated in previous editions.

Committee Vice Chair Councilor Roger Abaday proposed exploring the possibility of requesting the Philippine Sports Commission to reconsider the age limit to include athletes under 12, as they were eligible in past competitions.

The City Sports Office reported that Cagayan de Oro has been participating in Batang Pinoy since 2014. The office, which is responsible for endorsing athletes for the competition, faces budget constraints that necessitate a selective process. Priority is given to athletes with strong performance records, particularly those who have medals in the Palarong Pambansa and National PRISAA.

Councilor Abaday suggested that the city should not allow athletes who can self-fund their participation to compete to ensure fairness. He highlighted potential disparities, noting that while official city delegates will stay in hotels with meal allowances, self-funded participants might be accommodated in classrooms.

Abaday further urged the committee to secure additional financial support for the athletes, saying, “We are a billionaire city; we must find ways to provide more funding.” He suggested that increased funding could allow the city to send more athletes and coaches to the competition.

The committee agreed to sponsor two resolutions: one requesting the city's chief executive to provide additional financial assistance for the athletes, and another requesting similar support from the city’s two congressional offices.

In a related discussion, the City Sports Office requested the SK Federation, through Councilor Sacala, to organize city-wide eliminations to select athletes for national competitions. This would allow for a more structured and competitive selection process for future events.

In other business, the committee approved the Supplemental Budget No. 1 of SK Barangay 31 and the Annual Budget of SK Barangay Canitoan. Both measures will now be forwarded to the 20th City Council for final approval.