The “banana capital” of the country is poised to become the new sports capital of the South.
Davao del Norte’s bid to become the country’s new sports Mecca may yet become a reality, if Congressman Anthony G. del Rosario (AGR) and his father Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario will have their way.
Cong. del Rosario told media at a recent episode of the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo that he is filing a bill in Congress declaring Davao del Norte as the Regional Sports Center. He intends to file the bill within two weeks time.
As sports capital, the province would become the training ground for all promising athletes of the region starting from the grassroots as envisioned by AGR.
The plan has the support of the governor who has been laying down the groundwork for the province’s reinvigorated thrust towards positioning itself as a major sports destination in the country. He says the proposed measure comes at the “right time” in anticipation of the start of the construction of the new Provincial Sports Complex in Mankilam, Tagum City, which will replace the old sports complex at the same site where it was razed by fire in March 2003. The province was set to carry out the project in 2008 yet, but, the governor deferred its implementation to give way to the multi-million economic stimulus package that funded his Project NOBLE (No Barangay Left Behind), allotting P1 million each to all the barangays of the province.
This time Gov. del Rosario is finally pursuing the project which will be bidded out next month and he expects it to be completed by the end of 2012. He is upbeat that the proposed bill his son is filing will be approved by Congress, citing Davao del Norte’s advantage over other probable aspirants in the region. Davao City and Compostela Valley province do not have their own sports complex, while Davao Oriental’s sports facility, according to him is not big enough for grand sporting events.
“Hopefully, Davao del Norte will have the head start,” he said.
The governor said Davao del Norte is noted for producing potential national athletes in boxing, karatedo, swimming and taekwondo.
Cong. AGR brought up the concept of making Davao del Norte a regionsl sports haven four years ago when he was still the provincial sports coordinator.
His advocacy for sports development comes as no surprise as he was a sportsman before joining politics, having played varsity football as a student of the Ateneo de Davao University.
He also owned and managed the Davao Eagles franchise in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
When he won his congressional seat, he sustained his AGR KIDS (Agenda for Games and Recreation- Kabataan Ilayo sa Droga) sports program in the first district, which he initiated as the former sports czar of the province. [Noel Baguio/DavNor PIO]
