It’s Abra’s turn to host the biggest regional sports event come February next year.
Department of Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) confirmed recently that the province will be the official host for the biggest gathering of athletes from the public and private schools from the six provinces and two cities of the region.
In a planning conference with the technical-inspection team from DepEd CAR, the Provincial Government of Abra assured the completion of its sports complex composed of a rubberized track oval and Olympic-sized swimming pool before the start of the 2018 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association Meet (CARAA).
Katherine Pacsa, representative of Governor Maria Jocelyn Valera-Bernos, emphasized that their province is more than willing to host once again the CARAA after 16 years and that it would be an opportunity to showcase the present state of Abra which is far different from the past.
“The Provincial Government will do its best in meeting the requirements of the CARAA Board so that the conduct of the 2018 CARAA may become fruitful and memorable,” added Pacsa.
Meanwhile, DepEd Regional Sports Coordinator Agustin Gumuwang revealed that an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 athletes and officials are expected to join the sports event if each delegation will go beyond the usual 600 to 700 number of participants.
“We will have the usual seven participating teams; Kalinga and Tabuk City will not push through with their initial plan to compete as separate delegations,” Gumuwang said.
He added that the Province of Abra is the sole bidder for the hosting of the 2018 CARAA and Governor Bernos had in fact already expressed her desire to host next year’s during this year’s CARAA closing in Baguio City.
Gumuwang also assured that the peace and order issues and concerns in the province will be addressed before and all throughout the conduct of the sports event.
“The Abra Provincial Police Office presented their security plan during the planning conference and committed to maintain a peaceful and orderly conduct of the sports event,” he added.
The technical team composed of DepEd education supervisors in charge of sports and other technical experts inspected and validated the readiness of the proposed billeting schools as well as playing venues this November.
Aside from the sports complex in Bangued, other playing venues include the Abra High School, Bangued East Elementary School, Divine Word College (DWC), Bangued Town Plaza, Camp Juan Villamor, and Abra Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST).
On the other hand, Bangued West Central School, Mudeng Elementary School, Pidigan Central School, St. Mary High School, Sinalang Pilot Elementary School, Agtangao Elementary School, including Abra High School, ASIST, and DWC were identified as billeting schools.
The Province of Abra hosted for the first time CARAA back in 2001. ** Georaloy I. Palao-ay
