ILOILO – The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 is ready for the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet after a three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With the theme, “Championing Excellence through Sports,” the regional sports meet will be held in Aklan province.
Dr. Ramir B. Uytico, DepEd-6 regional director, said he personally chose the theme because “We’ve been claiming that this (Western Visayas) is the home of champions.”
“Gagamitin natin ang sports na we can produce champions. Tapos through sports, kampyon ang mga bata natin sa values, kampyon ang mga bata natin sa techniques, kampyon ang mga bata natin sa mga strategies na maging winners through sports,” Uytico said in an interview with Panay News.
Uytico further said DepEd-6 and regional sports meet hosts, Schools Division of Aklan and Aklan province, prioritize the health of the delegates, technical officials and other DepEd personnel especially with the prevailing dry season.
Measures are in place to ensure no untoward incidents will happen, he said.
“Ang number one concern ko is safety. Ako din, I also encourage the superintendents and emphasize to them na paano na ‘yong medalya, paano na ‘yong trophy kung hindi safe ‘yong mga participants. I’d like to emphasize that the main concern or main priority in the conduct of 2023 WVRAA is safety of our athletes, safety of our officials, and safety of our participants,” said Uytico.
Officiating officials and other DepEd personnel involved in the WVRAA Meet will undergo routine checkup every day to include checking of blood pressure every morning before the games or prior to their designated functions or committees.
The DepEd-6 medical officials are also ready to assist different schools divisions in case they need technical assistance in crafting measures to ensure that delegates are safe.
For their part, Aklan assured their preparedness in hosting the regional sports meet.
Dr. Jerson Labos, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, said their series of inter-agency meeting together with concerned government agencies is continuous to make sure that measures or protocols are in place.
Among these is the placing of special lanes at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital for delegates who may need emergency treatment.
Ambulances are also in standby and medical teams are deployed in all venues of sports events.
How many are delegates?
The DepEd central office allotted a budget of P2 million for the conduct of WVRAA Meet 2023 while the regional office augmented additional fund to cater to all the needs of the delegates.
Moreover, schools divisions and local government units have set aside funds for their respective delegates.
Dr. Amelita Pitalgo, chief of Education Support Services Division of DepEd-6, said around 6,000 delegates (composed of athletes, coaches, chaperones, trainers and officials) including the technical officials and technical working groups are expected to join the WVRAA Meet.
“The total estimated number of delegates will be 4,587 athletes, coaches, chaperones and trainers and officials. Plus our technical officials and technical working groups, so around 6,000,” Pitalgo said.
Here is the breakdown of the more than 4,000 delegates per province:
* Aklan – 742
* Capiz – 681
* Guimaras – 381
* Iloilo – 787
* Negros Occidental – 847
* Antique – 750
Pitalgo said more than 2,000 medals are at stake for the WVRAA Meet composed of 24 sports events for the secondary and 15 for the elementary level.
Sports events include paragames, individual and team sports, and comb sports, among others./PN
