Kalinga, Tabuk divorces for Caraa 2019, DepEd, Tabuk City

THERE will be two entries for Kalinga when the 2019 edition of the Cordillera Administrative Region gets going at Apayao in February.

Tabuk City has finally separated from its mother province Kalinga, only in the regional sports meet as a separate competitor according to a Department of Education (DepEd) official.

Georaloy Palao-ay, DepEd's information officer said Kalinga Governor Jocel Baac has informed the agency Tabuk has finally bided goodbye to be part of the province in the annual meet which gathers more than 5,000 athletes and coaches from all over the region.

“This is a welcome development for us. We expect both local government units to compete in the highest level now that they are competing against each other,” adds Palao-ay.

Kalinga, together with Tabuk City, placed 6th last year after bagging 16 golds, 22 silvers and 49 bronze medals with perennial champion Baguio running away with 222-102-61 medal haul.

For the second time around, Apayao is set to host Caraa.

Palao-ay added although Apayao has filed its intent, DepEd will still await the letter coming from the provincial government until July 13 to finalize their hosting.

Apayao first hosted Caraa in 2013 and hopes to duplicate the success of hosting the regional meet with its newly-constructed BGV Memorial Sports Center that includes an Olympic size swimming pool. (Roderick Osis)