ILOILO City – As sweltering heat grips the region, the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 has adjusted the schedule of outdoor sports events in the ongoing 2025 Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association (WVRAA) Meet. The move comes in response to rising concerns over the potential dangers posed by high heat indices, which have already affected some athletes at the Binirayan Sports Complex in San Jose de Buenavista in Antique province.
The WVRAA Meet, which runs from March 2 to March 7 in Antique, has seen outdoor games rescheduled to early mornings or late afternoons to avoid the peak heat hours. The dry season is fast approaching, characterized by rising temperatures.
According to DepEd-6 information officer Hernani Escullar Jr., outdoor events such as football, futsal, softball, and archery will now take place from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and resume from 3 p.m. onwards.
Midday games, typically held when temperatures are highest, have been completely eliminated from the schedule.
“In terms of outdoor games, these are affected by the extreme heat. For example, football is now scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and will not resume until after 2 p.m. We’re doing this to protect the athletes from the risks of heat stroke or other heat-related conditions,” Escullar explained in an interview on March 3.
As of now, 24 sports events are being held – archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, dance sports, football, futsal, gymnastics, Para games, pencak silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwando, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu. Of these, the outdoor events are archery, football, futsal, soft ball, and swimming and these are the most impacted by the heat.
Swimming and other water sports still permitted to proceed as usual due to their nature.
Yesterday, the Department of Health (DOH) warned the public about heat-related illnesses.
“Prolonged heat exposure increases the risk of heat stroke, a serious condition that may cause loss of consciousness, confusion, seizures, or convulsions, which can be fatal if left untreated,” the DOH said in Filipino in its advisory.
On Sunday, March 2, during the WVRAA opening ceremony, a few athletes reportedly experienced fatigue and dizziness due to the heat, but medical staff were quick to attend to them, allowing them to return to their events.
Escullar reassured that every game venue has a dedicated medical team, including doctors, nurses, and an ambulance on standby, ensuring that athletes receive immediate care if needed.
Special attention has been given to contact sports like boxing and wushu, where the risk of injury is higher.
“There are designated hospitals with fast lanes prepared for athletes who need urgent medical attention. We are fully equipped to handle any emergencies,” Escullar said. “We are prepared for any injuries that might occur, though we hope to avoid them.”
With nearly 5,000 delegates from six provinces in attendance, including Aklan (826), Antique (895), Capiz (741), Guimaras (519), Iloilo (873), and Negros Occidental (872, DepEd is taking steps to ensure the safety and health of all participants. Athletes and team members are required to present medical certificates before competing, and daily health monitoring is conducted, including blood pressure checks.
To further ensure safety, food providers at billeting areas are required to present medical certificates, and strict measures are in place to ensure the quality of drinking water./PN
