Laoag City Mayor Michael V. Fariñas has announced additional cash incentives for Laoag City athletes that would at least finish in the top three of their respective sport disciplines in this year’s Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) Meet.

This move, Fariñas said, is to boost the morale of Laoag City athletes as he said first place winners stand to receive P3,000, while second and third placers would be given P2,000 and P1,000 respectively.

P1.1 million had been appropriated by the Laoag City government through the School Development Fund for this year’s IRAA Meet training and for the IRAA meet itself.

Aside from this, Fariñas said he is contemplating to heed the advise of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, who said during his speech at the athletic meet’s opening ceremonies, that by giving more attention and more funds athletes perform better.

In view of this, Fariñas said he would ask for additional budget for the city government’s sports development so expenses for the city’s athletes would be covered from a complete set of uniforms and gears, early training and the hiring of top level trainers and coaches.

This early, Fariñas is planning to talk with the Laoag City Department of Education (DepEd) officials for them to submit their budget proposals for the city’s sports development program which would be incorporated in next year’s budget proposal.

Dominic B. dela Cruz