The Navotas City Government officially opened Thursday its free summer workshops for the Navoteño youth.
Some 680 Navoteños ages 7-21 joined the NavotaAs Sports Camp Batch 20. Of this, 238 registered in swimming; 156 in basketball; 48 in volleyball; and 68 in badminton.
Also joining Batch 20 were 124 trainees in taekwondo, 13 in table tennis, 21 in judo, 10 in track and field, and two in soccer.
Meanwhile, 335 wanted to avail the city’s annual Summer Youth Program. Of this, 106 joined dancing; 99, drawing; 58, guitar playing; 45, theater acting; and 27, arnis.
Mayor John Rey Tiangco lauded the participants for making the most of their summer break.
“We are glad that you made time to improve your talents and skills this summer. We hope you will enjoy the workshops and be able to gain new friends,” he said.
Tiangco also urged parents to continue to support their children’s interests in arts and sports.
“Arts and sports help develop a child’s character. Let us support their interests and help them excel in what they do,” he added.
The SYP, held once every year, is open to all Navoteños aged 7-18. The program was launched in 2000 during the term of then-mayor and now Cong. Toby Tiangco to encourage the youth to discover and hone their talents.
The sports clinic, on the other hand, is conducted thrice every year as part of the city’s campaign against illegal drugs. The program started in 2011, a year after the younger Tiangco took office.