Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos emphasized the need for camaraderie and teamwork as he opened the inaugural Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Cup 2024.
“Ang ipapakita natin sa laro, teamwork at higit sa lahat ipapakita natin sa serbisyo ng bawat LGU (local government unit) at ahensiya ay ang teamwork o team play natin sa paglilingkod,” Abalos said.
The inaugural MMDA Cup 2024 Sports Festival is aimed at promoting friendship and camaraderie among government employees while participating in various games held at Filoil Ecooil Centre in San Juan City.
With Abalos were MMDA Chairman Don Artes; San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora; Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco; City of Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna; Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano; and Philippine Basketball Association Chairman Willie Marcial.
Abalos said extracurricular activities, especially sports-related ones such as the MMDA Cup 2024, are significant in ensuring the welfare of government employees amid the high demand and stressful work in the government sector.
“Napakaimportante nito [MMDA Cup 2024} dahil sa totoo lang sa bawat LGU kung minsan stress ang mga empleyado n’yan, araw-araw may problema. Kaya maganda ito for exercise and camaraderie,” he explained.
Seventeen LGUs from the National Capital Region and various national government agencies (NGAs) have participated in the MMDA Cup and will compete in volleyball and basketball games.
Metro Manila LGUs competing include the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Manila who won in their first game beating San Juan City, Marikina, Quezon, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Pasig and the municipality of Pateros.
Meanwhile, NGAs participants are from the Office of the President, the DILG, MMDA Philippine National Police (PNP), National Housing Authority (NHA), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philhealth.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Commission on Higher Education, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), and National Housing Authority (NHA) also participated.
The MMDA Cup 2024 is in partnership with Philhealth Insurance Corporation, Joyride Philippines, and San Miguel Corporation.
The games are also sponsored by International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist, Inc. (ISWIMS), Cleanfuel Group of Companies, SM Supermalls, Cherry, Maynilad, Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc. (PSMBFI), and Manila Electric Company (Meralco).
