By Mahatma Datu/PNA
IBA, Zambales — The 2019 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) meet will kick off at the Zambales Sports Complex here on Sunday, where some 10,000 young athletes from all over the region will participate in the annual regional sporting event.
The athletes come from 18 school divisions in Central Luzon and will vie to represent the region in the Palarong Pambansa.
With the theme, “Sports: Building Character, Shaping Dreams”, the six-day sports meet, which will run until Friday, aims to inculcate among the student-athletes discipline, cooperation, sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Governor Amor Deloso said the provincial government is in close coordination with various government agencies, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and military, to ensure the safety, and maintain security and welfare of the delegates, especially the athletes.
Meanwhile, Zambales Police Director, Senior Supt Felix Verbo Jr., said the provincial command has deployed 225 policemen, complemented with personnel from the Philippine Army, PNP Special Action Force, Regional Mobile Force Battalion and contingencies from Barangay Peace Action Teams (BPAT) in Iba town.
CLRAA 2019 will officially open with an athletic parade at 3 p.m., followed by the raising of the Philippine national flag to be led by Vice Governor Angel Magsaysay.
Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go will grace the meet, assisted by DepEd Regional Director Dr. Beatriz Torno, DepEd-Zambales School Division Superintendent Romeo M. Alip, Zambales 2nd District Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, Iba Mayor Rundy Ebdane and members of the Provincial Board.
At 6 p.m. on Monday, there will be a Governor’s Night at the People’s Park here, where Governor Deloso and Vice Governor Magsaysay will welcome the delegates and officials.
The CLRAA participants will compete in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, and Special Olympics.
The 18 school divisions in the region are Angeles City, Aurora, Balanga City, Bataan, Bulacan, Cabanatuan City, Gapan City, Mabalacat City, Malolos City, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, City of San Fernando, San Jose City, Tarlac City, Tarlac, and Zambales.
