A MULTIPURPOSE gymnasium built on funds donated by the International Olympic Committee is now being used by residents in Barangay Binotong, Alangalang, a remote village in Southern Leyte.
The facility was recently opened after Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr., led a formal opening ceremony with residents of Montano Gawad Kalinga Community.
Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who is the International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines, also graced the simple turnover rites of the gymnasium, which will be known as the POC Activity Center.
The POC chief and Cojuangco-Jaworski were greeted by over 100 school children, their parents and community officials.
“If we can train these kids properly in a proper venue, we can discover potential talents even in areas far from the city,’’ said Cojuangco in a statement.
The multipurpose gym in Alangalang is the POC’s third in the province after building a similar facility in two other remote areas in the towns of Palo and Albuera.
The constructions of the facility was made possible through the efforts of top POC official and project director Tom Carrasco and POC executive assistant Gina Calaguas.
Carrasco said the three activity centers were built using the donation of the IOC, Olympic Solidarity and Olympic Council of Asia for people who were displaced when Super Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban City late 2013.
Around $150,000 were released through the IOC, Olympic Council of Asia and the Olympic Solidarity Fund for each of the project according to POC officials.
The POC then went into a partnership with Gawad Kalinga and spent roughly P4 million for each of the activity centers.
Alangalang mayor Reynaldo B. Capon Sr. is now making the multipurpose gym available to serve all 10 barangays near Montano GK.
The facilities can be used for basketball, volleyball and badminton, activities among others.
Cojuangco-Jaworski said they expect the facilities to be maintained by the local officials.
On the other hand, the POC plans to implement a program to sustain the high interest of the children for sports in these communities.