By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — Iloilo will host the National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Meet on the second week of April next year.
Roger Banzuela, Western Visayas PRISAA executive director, said this was after his effort to bring the hosting to Bacolod City failed to convince the local government here, which was reportedly adamant against the hosting.
Banzuela said he prefers Bacolod to Iloilo because playing venues are already in place here and would only require a minimal transport of other equipment.
He believes Bacolod would have been most convenient for all participating schools from across 17 regions.
Banzuela said on June 6 there will be a national planning workshop to determine the playing venues and billeting centers.
Tagum City hosted this year’s National PRISAA at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex.
Western Visayas regained the overall title, collecting 99 gold, 54 silver and 74 bronze medals, from Central Visayas, which had 80-42-29 medal hauls.
With Iloilo’s hosting next year, Engr. Ralph Pador, executive administrator of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University and Western Visayas PRISAA president, will automatically become the National PRISAA president.
This will be the third time for Iloilo to host the national private schools sports competition. Others were in 1992 and 2007.
Bacolod City hosted the event in 2004./PN
