Hoping to complete the construction of the Olympic – size swimming pool at the Benguet Sports Complex, Benguet, thru Cong. Eric Go Yap expressed their desire to host the 2025 edition of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association.
Yap, thru his chief of staff Kevin See, made the announcement last week during the awarding of incentives to Benguet athletes who competed during the 2024 edition of CARAA held in Apayao.
Benguet last hosted CARAA in 2011 and since then, the province has embarked on significant infrastructure improvements to bolster its candidacy for the 2025 edition.
See said the province is more than willing to host the yearly athletic meet since improvement of the sports complex that includes the installation of the rubberized tartan track in the oval, renovation of the bleachers and the FIBA standard basketball court are now finished.
“These upgrades reflect Benguet’s commitment to providing the best facilities for our athletes and the community,” added See. “We believe that with these improvements, we can offer an exceptional experience for everyone involved in the CARAA meet.”
The hosting is seen as a catalyst for promoting sports and encouraging youth participation in athletics across the province aligning with the broader vision of enhancing regional sports infrastructure and providing athletes with platforms to showcase their talents.
Although Benguet could be a shoo-in for hosting next year’s sports meet, Department of Education – Cordillera regional dir. Estella Carino said the province still needs to write a letter of intent for hosting CARAA.
During a press briefing in July last year, Carino said Ifugao also signified its interest to host CARAA in 2025.
Abra is also keen on pursuing the hosting next year, according to DepEd.
DepEd has been eyeing for the early identification of hosts to ensure well prepared sports facilities, billeting schools as well as athletes and coaches as local government units will have ample time to prepare standard sports facilities as well as enough billeting centers for student-athletes.
These will also help LGUs whether from the barangay level up to the provincial level to gauge their budget allotments relative to sports development and participation to competitions such as the CARAA for the next three years.
Aside from the facilities, the host locality should have available basic services such as medical and dental, communications, water and electric power supply and the peace and order situation in the locality must be excellent and conducive to the holding of the regional activity. Roderick Osis
