PSC commissioners Ed Hayco and Walter Torres attend the launching of the Para Kids grassroots sports training program in Cebu City.
PSC, DepEd, Cebu City launch para kids program
CEBU CITY — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Department of Education and Cebu City government have joined hands to launch the Para Kids grassroots sports training program for the physically challenged during simple but meaningful ceremonies at the Fort San Pedro her e last Sept. 30.
The program is aimed at encouraging physically challenged children to come out of their homes and get actively involved in sports.
“We want to encourage all physically challenged children to come out of their homes and participate actively in sports, be it indoor or outdoor,” said Commissioner Ed Hayco of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Hayco, who was accompanied by fellow PSC Commissioner Walter Torres during the event launch, said similar projects will be launched in other cities and provinces all over the country as part of the government sports agency’s grassroots development program.
“As we’ve always said, those who have less in life, including those in public schools, should get all the assistance from the government thru the PSC,” added Hayco, who also served as head of the Cebu City Sports Commission for 12 years before he was appointed to the PSC by President Marcos in December 2022.
Torres, who has oversight over para sports in the PSC, echoed Hayco’s observation and thanked both DepEd and the Cebu City government for their support to the program.
“The advantage of this Para Kids program is to encourage our young PWDs to come out and become physically active. They now have a starting point to develop their skills further. They can even become competitive and be national para athletes in the future,” said Torres, who was joined by PSC Executive Assistant Johanna Torres.
“With so many stakeholders involved, including the deaf group, we aim to start a dialogue among them so we can define and distinguish to what extent we can help and in what sport these children can get involved in,” added Torres.
Also present during the occasion were Jocelyn Llesol, who heads the group for people with disabilities (PWDs) in Cebu; Special Olympics Pilipinas national director Janvie Amido, Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. founder and para dragon boat coach John Paul Maunes, PSC Visayas official Kate Belaniso and former national para athlete Arnold Balais.
