Davao Region

DavNor gov’t employees join regular running session

By Jeanevive D. Abangan

Wednesday 13th of June 2012

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, June 13 (PIA) -- More provincial government employees of Davao del Norte are joining the regular late afternoon running session, “No Alibi Run.”

Considered part of the Physical Fitness thrust of the provincial government, the activity aims to “push a bandwagon leading to the creation of a culture of running,” provincial sports coordinator Giovanni I. Gulane said.

Thought of as a teaser, the “No Alibi Run” tag serves to put emphasis on the importance of spending time to run or jog as a healthy physical fitness activity, which entails no cost for provincial employees for them to stay fit.

“Running is the cheapest form of exercise that works,” he said as he pointed out the perfect environment that the Provincial Capitol compound provides for runners.

In a leaflet, the Provincial Sports Office enumerates the benefits of running. It says that running controls weight, builds up bones and muscles, relieves stress, slows down the aging process, boosts body immunity, prevents diabetes and cancer and avoids depression. Running also has healthy benefits for the heart and it promotes better sex life.

Scheduled every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the late afternoon “No Alibi Run” starts at 5:00 p.m. after office hours. Runners can start their warm up session at 4:30 p.m. on Fridays, Gulane said.

There used to be few employees running around the Provincial Capitol compound when the activity started late last year, but the number of runners has increased to about 100 as some have appreciated the fun of running with others.

To entice more running enthusiasts, the Provincial Sports Office is giving away free singlet, a sleeveless running uniform, which any provincial government employee can get after joining five running sessions.

The physical fitness activity designed as recreation for provincial government employees forms part of provincial sports program which banners the theme, “Sports for All,” encouraging everyone to join sports.

Giovanni bared four major components of the Sports for All program, namely, Grassroots Training for Development, Elite Sports, Physical Fitness or Recreation Sports and Sports for Development.

The Grassroots Training for Development trains kids to become professional athletes while the Elite Sports sends out athletes to national, regional and even international sports events.

The provincial government is also integrating sports to attain development. It has become a special component of its “Ugmad Komunidad,” which puts together tourism, livelihood and sports as essential factors in bringing about community development.

“We would like to bring in sports to the poorest barangays,” Gulane said.

However, Gulane saw the need to strengthen local sports organizations starting at the barangay level, for any sports event, even a mere physical fitness, to take off and gain wide public support.

“Before a sports program can take off, the backbone is a very strong organization and that is the thrust of governor Rodolfo del Rosario, that a sports program should begin with strong sports organization,” he said. (RGA/JDA-PIA11)