ILOILO City – Iloilo Active Sports (ACTS), the organizer of the controversial 1st Iloilo City of Love Dinagyang Duathlon 2023, has apologized over the prizes it gave the winners of the competition.
“Iloilo Active Sports, also known as IACTS, apologizes for any misunderstanding that may have occurred during the event,” read part of the statement it issued yesterday.
Some of the winning participants claimed that their cash prizes were different from those published in the event’s promotional posters.
On Facebook a participant said he was expecting a prize of P4,000 as third placer for the 46-above category. However, he only received P500.
According to ACTS, winners in all categories will be given the prizes as published by the organizing committee.
It said that all first prize winners in each age category will receive the remaining balance of P7,000 in addition to the P1,000 they received during the event, for a total of P8,000.
Second prize finishers in each age category will receive the balance of P5,200 in addition to the P800 they first received during the event, for a total of P6,000.
To complete their P4,000 in cash prize, all third prize finishers will receive the balance of P3,500 in addition to the P500 they first got.
“We hope this gesture will, in some small way, be a positive step towards understanding. We take heart that these unfortunate incidents will not dissuade our colleagues in supporting and participating in our future initiatives,” it added.
The organizer also said they will contact the winners directly.
Aside from apologizing, the organizer, at the start of its statement, stressed that their intention in hosting the sports event was to promote sports tourism and the Dinagyang Festival.
“We at IACTS are also sports enthusiasts and know the training and hardships the athletes must endure in preparing for these kinds of events. We know that we all compete not only for the camaraderie we experience in these events but also for the pride and prizes that come along with it. We also know the disappointments and sadness you feel in competing in an event that does not meet our expectations or standards. And we again apologize for any misunderstanding that happened after the event,” it added.
Earlier, no less than Mayor Jerry P. Treñas ordered to investigate the incident.
“All sports activities using the name of the city government and Dinagyang will be investigated. We will not allow any issues to mar our celebration,” said Treñas in a statement.
He tasked City Administrator Melchor Tan to lead the probe./PN
