Meanwhile, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones is expected to grace the CARAA meet as a guest speaker.
“We have scheduled the opening program in the morning because we know that Secretary Briones does not stay up late,” Georaloy Palao-ay of the DepEd-CAR Public Affairs Division and deputy Regional Sports Coordinator said in a phone interview.
He said the organizing committee also prepared a short and simple opening program on February 27, focusing on the province’s culture, people and the place.
He said Briones will be accompanied by other DepEd officials to visit the schools in the province.
Palao-ay added that based on initial information, Briones will also visit Kalinga schools, after Apayao.
Apayao will host the CARAA for the second time since the region’s grassroots sports event was organized 30 years ago. It first hosted the event in 2013.
Now a peaceful province
Governor Elias Bulut Jr. during the Kapihan sa Baguio which featured the 2019 CARAA said that Apayao’s tag in the 80s as heavily infested with New People’s Army rebels has been deleted for good.
“This is our way of showing that Apayao is a peaceful place and venue for events as well as a possible host to businesses,” Bulut said.
Bulut said Apayao was struck by both Typhoons Ompong and Rosita on the last quarter of 2018 but they were able to cope with the preparation with DepEd’s immediate release of the PHP50-million quick response fund.
Last week, Provincial Administrator Vincent Talattag said they are now 80 percent in the preparation and will be 95 percent by end of January.
The tartan rubber track for the athletics events is currently being installed for the sports event. **Pamela Mariz Geminiano/ PNA
