Manila, April 22 -- Qualified Ilonggo athletes will soon benefit from the institutionalized partnership between this highly urbanized city's local government and the National Academy of Sports (NAS).

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council), during its regular session on Wednesday, approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Raisa Trenas, representing the city government, to sign a memorandum of agreement with the NAS, a government-run institution offering a specialized secondary education curriculum integrated with sports training through a scholarship program.

Councilor Jelma Crystal Implica, chair of the Committee on Sports and Youth, said that under the agreement, NAS will provide free training for qualified junior and senior high scho...