ILOILO City – With only weeks remaining before the 2024 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet, all eyes are on whether Iloilo City and Province can retain their championship title or if a new champion will emerge.
The event, scheduled for May 2-7, is set to take place in Negros Occidental and is hosted by the provincial government and the Schools Division of Negros Occidental, with Bacolod City Schools Division as co-host.
Nicasio Valenzuela, division sports officer of the Schools Division of Iloilo, announced that 597 delegates from the province are prepared to travel to Bacolod City on April 29.
The delegation consists of 389 athletes, 99 coaches, 35 trainers, and 74 other officials and support staff.
Training for the participating athletes began on March 19, aiming for a comprehensive 40-day preparation period to ensure peak performance.
“Our goal is to complete the number of training days so we’re fully prepared to compete against other provinces,” Valenzuela said.
At the last WVRAA Meet held in Makato, Aklan in 2023, Iloilo was declared the champion in all three categories: Regular Events, Demonstration Sports, and Para Games. They topped the medal tally with 229 gold, 154 silver, and 100 bronze medals.
“This is why we targeted 40 days of training, as we are determined to defend our title,” Valenzuela said, noting last year’s historic win as the first time Iloilo topped all categories.
For this year’s competition, Valenzuela expressed confidence in athletics, particularly from Iloilo’s 5th District, known for producing gold medalists.
He also has high hopes for team sports including softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, sepak takraw, 3X3 basketball, and futsal.
Additionally, the Iloilo provincial government under Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has allocated over P12 million for the allowances and training of the athletes.
While the funds are pending release, schools, principals, and coaches are temporarily covering the training expenses.
“We are continuously processing the release of funds as coaches and principals are currently shouldering the costs, underscoring the importance of training,” added Valenzuela.
Here are the results of the 2023 WVRAA Meet that Iloilo dominated:
For Regular Events (Elementary)
* Champion – Iloilo with 149 medals (69 gold, 50 silver and 30 bronze)
* 1st Runner-up – Negros Occidental with 151 medals (59 gold, 52 silver and 40 bronze)
* 2nd Runner-up – Aklan with 80 medals (nine gold, 22 silver and 49 bronze)
For Regular Events (Secondary)
* Champion – Iloilo with 225 medals (103 gold, 69 silver and 53 bronze)
* 1st Runner-up – Negros Occidental – 242 medals (88 golds, 85 silver and 69 bronze)
* 2nd Runner-up – Aklan with 103 medals (23 gold, 36 silver, and 44 bronze)
For Para Games
* Champion – Iloilo with 69 medals (40 gold, 20 silver and nine bronze)
* 1st Runner-up – Negros Occidental with 56 medals (19 gold, 28 silver and nine bronze)
* 2nd Runner-up – Aklan with 22 medals (three gold, four silver and 15 bronze)
For Demo Sports (Elementary)
* Champion – Iloilo with 12 medals (four gold, seven silver and one bronze)
* 1st runner up – Negros Occidental with four medals, all are gold
* 2nd runner up – Antique with eight medals (one silver and seven bronze)
For Demo Sports (Secondary)
* Champion – Iloilo with 28 medals (13 gold, eight silver, and seven bronze)
* 1st runner up – Aklan with 14 medals (seven gold, two silver and five bronze
* 2nd runner up – Antique with 17 medals (two gold, one silver and 14 bronze)/PN
