GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- At least 700 student-athletes in South Cotabato are set to undergo a 25-day intensive training, in line with the upcoming Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) meet and the Palarong Pambansa.
Isagani dela Cruz, Department of Education-South Cotabato division superintendent, said Friday the training is aimed to further improve the performance of their athletes as they seek a repeat of last year's championship in the regional meet.
The South Cotabato "dreamweavers" emerged as regional champion for the third consecutive year in 2018 and is hoping to make it a four-peat this year.
"(The training will) provide qualified athletes the opportunity to improve their strategies and game plan for winning the regional and national meets," Dela Cruz said.
The SRAA meet is slated on Feb. 17 to 22 in Kiamba, Sarangani Province. The 2019 Palarong Pambansa will be hosted by Davao City in April.
In a memorandum, dela Cruz said the training will be conducted from Jan. 23 to Feb. 16 at the Surallah Elementary School in Surallah town.
It will also involve coaches, assistant coaches, chaperones and management staff under the South Cotabato Athletic Association, he said.
All participants will gather and undergo an orientation on Jan. 22 or a day before the training proper, he added.
Dela Cruz said coaches were required to submit their respective training designs for a 25-day training program and complete the required documents of the student-athletes.
South Cotabato athletes undergo intensive training annually in preparation for the regional and national meets.
The training was based on a program introduced by former Olympian and Southeast Asian Games men's long jump record holder, Henry Dagmil, who hails from the province.
The provincial government of South Cotabato allocated PHP4.8 million for the upcoming training through the Special Education Fund (SEF).
The provincial school board approved a budget of PHP42 million this year for the SEF, with PHP19.2 million set aside for sports development programs. (PNA)
