By Lilian Mellejor/PNA
DAVAO CITY — The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) on Wednesday said a total of 1,200 policemen will be deployed to provide security coverage for the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet, which will kick off Sunday at the Davao City-University of the Philippines Sports Complex in Bago Oshiro, Tugbok.
Senior Insp. Ma. Theresita Gaspan, DCPO spokesperson, said that with the additional forces provided by the military and other law enforcement agencies, the total security personnel for the DAVRAA event will reach close to 3,000.
Gaspan said the security forces will secure venues and the 17 billeting quarters of the delegates until the conclusion of the sports event on February 2.
Jenelito Atillo, Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd-11) spokesperson, said they are expecting some 7,700 delegates who will be arriving in the city starting Friday.
Atillo said the opening ceremony will be held at the Tugbok sports complex on Sunday at 3 p.m. Other games will be played in different venues.
“We are all ready to implement the security management plan for the DAVRAA,” Gaspan told reporters during the AFP-PNP press corps briefing on Wednesday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
This city’s hosting of DAVRAA is a prelude to the second hosting of the Palarong Pambansa. Davao City first hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1950.
The city is positioning as the next sports and tourism destination on the country with the near completion of the PHP8-billion Davao City-UP Sports Complex.
