ILOILO CITY — Iloilo province is ready to host the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet slated on February 18-23.
Provincial School Board secretary Jerry Bionat said Friday the provincial government had allotted PHP22.7 million for the event.
He said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), during its session last Jan. 29, had already given Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. the authority to enter a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Education division of Iloilo for the release of the fund.
Bionat said that PHP5.7 million was for the operating expenses in line with the hosting of the more than 3,000 delegates from the six provinces of Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, PHP16.9 million is intended for athletes from Iloilo province, especially for their uniforms, food, and training.
Bionat said the training of the athletes began last December.
Delegates from public and private schools had combined to represent their respective provinces and cities, he added.
Delegates from Negros Occidental were also back to compete in the regional meet after the Negros Island Regional was dissolved last year.
For Iloilo, delegates from the city and the province have combined into one delegation.
The regional sports event will have 24 disciplines, among them athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball.
Bionat said that a Governor’s night would be held in between the weeklong athletic meet to gather governors and other officials from each participating province.
In a previous press conference, Defensor also expressed the province’s readiness to host the regional meet.
He said that Capiz province was supposed to host but did not push through due to the ongoing development of their facilities, especially the rubberized track oval in their sports complex. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
