By Noel Punzalan/Philippine News Agency
COTABATO CITY — The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM) recognized on Monday its winning athletes from the recently-concluded Palarong Pambansa by extending cash rewards for the honor they have brought to the region.
The BARMM bagged a total of 19 medals – three golds, ten silvers, and six bronzes – from the April 27-May 4 Palarong Pambansa 2019 games in Davao City.
Cash rewards of PHP20,000 were given to each of the gold medalists, PHP15,000 for silver, and PHP10,000 to the bronze winners.
BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal–together with BARMM Assistant Executive Secretary Abdullah Cusain, and Director Taya Aplal of the region’s Bureau of Physical Education and Special Events–led the awarding ceremony held at the Shariff Kabunsuan Complex, the seat of the BARMM government situated in this city.
“You have fought a great fight; you have surpassed the expectations,” Iqbal told the athletes.
BARMM ranked 16th among the 17 regions in the country who joined this year’s national games.
Iqbal said that in 2017, the region has been in the bottom rank of the annual Palaro with only a total of 9 medals.
In 2018, the region only won a total of three bronze medals from the annual multi-sport event involving student-athletes from 17 regions of the country.
“This year (2019), however, you have brought home an amazing 19 medals,” Iqbal said.
BARMM athletes won gold medals in athletics long jump, athletics triple jump, and lawn tennis doubles event, all in the elementary level.
BARMM players also garnered silver medals in the high jump, billiards 9-ball competition, lawn tennis, and taekwondo events. The region also collected bronze medals in the boxing, table tennis, football and taekwondo (elementary and secondary) events.
In addition, BARMM also acquired medals in the demo sports (arnis and pencak silat) and Paralympics special events.
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