A sports revival is taking shape in Cebu as the provincial government reactivates its long-dormant sports commission, aiming to fast-track youth development programs during the summer break.
The Cebu Provincial Government has reactivated its sports commission after years of inactivity, with officials moving to roll out grassroots programs for young athletes across the province.
The Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC), inactive since 2019, formally resumed operations on Thursday, April 16, following the oath-taking of newly appointed members led by Governor Pamela Baricuatro at the Capitol.
The commission’s return is expected to focus on grassroots sports development, talent identification, and wider community participation in athletic programs across Cebu.
Immediately after the oath-taking, the commission held its first meeting to revisit its mandate and set initial priorities.
CPSC chairperson Dr. Rhoel James Timothy Dejano said the meeting served as a reset for the body as members familiarized themselves with their roles.
“This is the first meeting of the new provincial sports commission… we just had an overview on the functions and mandate,” Dejano said.
He said the commission will prioritize grassroots development and talent discovery across municipalities and cities.
“Part of the function… is really to promote sports, especially grassroots programs, talent identification, and making a sports program for the province,” he said.
Dejano also said the commission aims to broaden participation to include various sectors of society.
“We have to be inclusive in sports… not only regular sports programs but also sports for our PWDs, senior sports, maybe and even LGBT sports,” he added.
With summer underway, the commission is preparing a province-wide program for students on school break, though final details are still being finalized.
“It’s going to be exciting for the province because we’re going to have our summer grassroots program,” Dejano said.
The initiative will include free training sessions, with coaches to be deployed to municipalities to train young participants.
“We have identified certain sports where our constituents, especially the youth, can avail for free,” he said.
Sports such as basketball, volleyball, football, and pickleball are among those being considered, along with other school-based disciplines.
While the provincial government has allocated funding for sports development this year, officials said the exact budget share for the commission is still being finalized.
“For this year, I think there is already an allocation… but I don’t know the exact amount,” Dejano said.
He said clearer budget planning is expected next year once the commission submits its own funding proposal.
“For next year… we can have our own budget that we can work on,” he said.
Private sector representative Paul Jake Castillo, a newly appointed commissioner, urged the body to move quickly to maximize the summer window for youth programs.
“I was pushing that we have to be fast because summer is not going to wait for us,” Castillo said.
He said early planning is critical in organizing sports activities.
“It’s not easy to organize an event… it’s not as easy as it seems,” he said.
Castillo also emphasized the importance of grassroots programs during school break.
“That’s when we should concentrate on the grassroots program,” he said.
He added that long-term support systems for athletes must also be considered beyond competition.
“They should think about the future of the athlete… not just the fame,” he said.
He also raised concerns about transparency in athlete selection, expressing hope for clearer systems moving forward.
“I expect something to change… that it won’t be handpicked,” he said.
The CPSC, created in 2014 but largely inactive in recent years, was reorganized through an executive order earlier this year.
As it resumes operations, officials acknowledged that priorities and implementation plans are still being refined as the commission builds momentum. (SBA)
Photo by: Kaiser Jan Fuentes
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