LET’S GET IT ON – Double sponsorship

By Neil Bravo
This one happened last year. It’s happening again this year.
No exact mention here but let this hit where it should. I have said it before too and I will say it again. No one should milk the city coffers for an event that has private sponsors. That is a clear case of double sponsorship.
I am talking here of the events for the forthcoming Araw ng Davao sports as sanctioned by the gods of the Davao City Sports Development Division. Sorry if I call them gods but that is how they seem like. Lurking like untouchable and infallible powers.
The main point here is that the city government is spending for the sportsfest as part of the annual celebration of the Araw ng Davao, now on its 78th milestone. Needless to say, sports associations, well not all of them are blessed with the support of the gods, submitted their proposals to hold sporting competitions handled by their organizations.
It’s clear here. The organizers should be the NSAs. That’s the guidelines from the gods. Non-NSAs, sorry.
But wait. There are some non-NSAs in this bunch of organizing sports associations. Some with hearts very close to the gods, some insiders.
And then there’s also this one event organized by an alien sounding foundation in cooperation with a private school with a foreign entity as major sponsor. This is not the first time. This event has been going on for a long time but it’s surprising to see it change its name for purposes of government support. Let’s wait to see the tarps what it’s really named.
Last year, there’s a karatedo tournament that was a real big sham. It was officiated by members of a family, participated by members of a family, and won by members of a family.
Good thing, that group is no longer part of this year’s events. If at all, that’s one less evil.
Still, the whole point here is for the sports office to be very prudent of the budget in their hands. Likewise, there should also be a need for the office to evaluate the sport receiving support whether or not the capital invested on these sports events have produced significant results for the city not only in terms of winning medals in competitions but also in the bigger spectre of things like promoting health and fitness and keeping children away from menacing drugs and petty crimes.
In the final reckoning, sports with significant measurable impact should be given priority—whether or not belonging to an NSA (which I find here to be loosely defined), an insider, or close to the gods.
NOTES: Listen to “Let’s Get It On with Neil Bravo” at 105.9 Balita FM every Saturdays 8 am to 10 am. You may email this writer at bravoneil@rocketmail.com.