By Chelsie Valentino
The municipal government will be awarding cash incentives to Los Baños athletes who have won local and international competitions.
Municipal ordinance no. 2011-1078 was amended with Municipal ordinance no. 2014-1376 entitled “An ordinance that extends cash incentives to Los Baños athletes who has exhibited exemplary performances in the field of sports in various local and international competitions bringing honor to the town and appropriating funds thereof” during the 44th Sangguniang Bayan regular session last November 14, 2014.
With the amendment of the said ordinance, the municipal government has awarded cash incentives to more athletes. Most recently, the municipal government has awarded an amount of P5,000 to Christian Velson Ticson for placing 11th on the 5th Mayon 360° Ultra Marathon last April 11.
According to the ordinance, all athletes who officially represent Los Baños, or any Los Baños based school in any provincial level to international level sports event are qualified to receive incentives. “Usually pumapasok hanggang college inaaccept pa”, says Rayman G. Canlas of the municipal Youth and Sports Development Office about the age qualification of the cash incentive. “Pero ‘yung covered ng municipal sports, mga bata talaga. Pero sa ordinance, walang nakalagay na age”, he adds.
The municipal Sports Incentive Awards Committee was created for the implementation of the ordinance. The committee shall gather the names and other information of qualifying Los Baños athletes. The municipal Youth and Sports Development Office shall then endorse these athletes for their achievements and qualification to receive monetary incentive from the municipal government. The athletes should then submit documentary requirements to Mayor Caesar P. Perez, head of the Sports Incentive Awards Committee, such as a bonafide residency certification from the Barangay, copy of the certificate or award or trophy, photos of awarding ceremonies, or any other available documentation or proof in order to receive the cash incentive.
For provincial and regional level sports events, the amount that qualifying individual athletes or team members can receive ranges from P1,000 to P3,000 and P3,000 to P6,000 for team. National level awards for individual athletes or team members ranges from P1,000 to P5,000 and P4,000 to P10,000 for team. Finally, international level awards for individual athletes or team members ranges from P5,000 to P10,000 and P10,000 to P15,000 for team.
This coming September 27, one chosen model citizen in the field of sports shall be awarded Outstanding Citizen for Sports Development, among other awards, in the “Search for Outstanding Citizens of Los Baños” as part of the town’s celebration of its 400th anniversary. Nominations for these awards are still open until July 17.