MAASIN CITY, (PIA)  --  Promotion, skills upgrading, and development in the field of sports will soon be one of the many governance agenda of the provincial government the moment a law can be passed mandating the creation of a provincial sports body.

House Bill No. 2375, entitled “An Act Estabishing the Southern Leyte Sports Academy and Training Center in the City of Maasin..." will do just that, aside from ensuring that funds are appropriated for its purpose.

The legislative measure was filed last year by Rep. Luz Verano Mercado, first district representative, and was referred to the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development for further study.

The proposed law declared that the center “shall be constituted as the primary sports development and training center for the whole province of Southern Leyte and the neighboring towns as well.”

“The provincial government of Southern Leyte and the city government of Maasin, in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), shall take the necessary steps to upgrade, improve, and modernize existing facilities, equipment, and personnel ...," the bill pointed out.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mercado also pushed for House Bill 5598, “An Act declaring the province of Southern Leyte as a Tourism Zone,” in which it is now on third and final reading in the concerned House Committee, it was learned. (MMP/PIA8-Southern Leyte, with reports from Dahlia Orit, RP Sogod)