Mayor Ogena Surprises SRAA Meet 2025 Delegates with Cash Incentive

In a warm gesture of hospitality, Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena surprised nearly 7,000 delegates of the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) Meet 2025 with a ₱1,000 cash incentive each, given to all athletes, coaches, and officials—except for the Koronadal City delegation, which reportedly will receive a higher additional cash incentive from the City Government of Koronadal.

The announcement, made during the opening ceremony at the South Cotabato Sports Complex on March 3, 2025, was met with cheers and gratitude from the crowd.

During his speech, Mayor Ogena personally delivered the exciting news, highlighting the city’s appreciation for the visiting delegates.

"Bilang isang espesyal na pa-welcome mula sa City Government of Koronadal, may inihanda kaming maliit na sorpresa para sa inyo—lahat ng atleta, mga coaches, at opisyal sa bawat delegasyon, maliban sa delegasyon ng City of Koronadal, ay makakatanggap ng ₱1,000 cash incentive. Ito ay simpleng paraan ng aming lungsod upang iparamdam sa inyo na kayo ay aming pinapahalagahan."

According to reports, Koronadal City’s own delegation will receive a separate ₱2,500 incentive from the City Government.

Mayor Ogena also took the opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifices and perseverance of the athletes and their mentors, emphasizing the effort and discipline required to reach this level of competition.

“Sa ating mga atleta, alam ko ang inyong mga sakripisyo at pinagdaanan—ang maagang paggising, ang walang sawang ensayo, at puspusang paghahanda.” 

He also expressed deep gratitude to the coaches and trainers, recognizing their crucial role in shaping young athletes into champions.

“Sa ating mga coaches at trainers, kayo ang tunay na haligi ng tagumpay ng ating mga atleta. Ang inyong gabay, tiyaga, at pagmamahal sa larangan ng sports ang nagtutulak sa kanila upang maging mahusay.”

The SRAA Meet 2025 is more than just a sporting event—it is a celebration of teamwork, resilience, and camaraderie. As the co-host of this year’s meet, alongside the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, Koronadal City has made every effort to ensure a well-organized and memorable competition for all participating delegations from across SOCCSKSARGEN.

"This is our way of showing appreciation for the dedication and commitment of our young athletes, coaches, and officials. We want them to feel valued and motivated to excel in their respective sports," Mayor Ogena added.

With Mayor Ogena’s inspiring words and generous support, athletes and coaches are more motivated than ever to push their limits, compete with honor, and bring pride to their respective divisions. As the games continue, the spirit of excellence, sportsmanship, and unity will undoubtedly shine throughout the competition.