For the third time, Apayao is set to host the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) next year.
While the province has yet to submit its letter of intent to the Department of Education – CAR, Gov. ElliasBulut Jr. said Apayao has been eager to host the regional sports meet next year.
“We are always ready to host CARAA,” said Bulut Jr. in a press conference with DepEd officials in the region in Sta. Marcela town.
Bulut has been prodding DepEd for the province to host the return of the face – to – face regional sports meet this year after the competition was halted three years ago due to the pandemic.
Apayao, first hosted the regional sports meet in 2013, has been developing its 100 – hectare sports complex in Luna that includes an Olympic size swimming pool and a rubberized tartan track.
Bulut said the development of the sports complex has been done phase by phase as they still scamper for funds for its improvement.
“We are on the process of improving our sports complex and we want it to be our legacy to our children. The province has been strategizing on how to boost the morale of our youth thru sports and by showcasing Apayaoto the region, we hope that it would catapult us as one of the region’s sports hubs,” Bulut added.
Bulut said investing in quality sports facility is one way of boosting the development of athletes in the grassroots.
DepEd-CAR regional director Estela Carino, accepted Apayao’s offer and said they will still have to submit documents such as letter of intent to formalize their hosting.
“With Apayao already volunteering to host, we will forego the bidding this time to accommodate their request but they still need to submit a letter of intent,” said Carino.
The DepEd official meanwhile said hosts for the next CARAA in 2025 and beyond will be identified as early as next year.
The early identification of hosts will ensure well prepared sports facilities, billeting schools as well as athletes and coaches as LGUs will have ample time to prepare standard sports facilities as well as enough billeting centers for student-athletes.
LGUs wanting to host the regional sports meet should have a rubberized track based on the criteria set by Republic Act 10588 or the Palarong Pambansa Act.
With the early identification of hosts, LGUs from the barangay level up to the provincial level will be able to gauge their budget allotments relative to sports development and participation to competitions such as the CARAA.
Aside from the facilities, the host 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
