Monday, December 22, 2008 Baguio gears for regional sports meet By Roderick Osis
AFTER the successful stint of Baguio athletes in the recently concluded 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival (POF), the city is once again gearing up in a bid to reign supreme anew when the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) opens February 2009.
City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said P30 million has been allotted by the city for the upkeep of the Baguio Athletic Bowl, which will be host to the annual sports meet.
Bautista said the scope of work to be done in Athletic Bowl will include the renovation of the main bleachers, basketball and volleyball courts, and the improvement of the drainage system.
"We're seeing a smooth preparation for Caraa with the disbursement of the needed funds for the Athletic Bowl," he said.
On top of that, another P6 million will be spent by the city for the repairs of schools that will be used by participating athletes on February 7 to 11, 2009.
"The rubberized track will not make it in time for the opening of the athletic meet but the repairs being done right now will be finished in February," Bautista added.
Baguio City will once again defend the overall crown it won last year in Benguet butwill have their hands full against the former including Mt. Province, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, and Ifugao.
The mayor on the other hand is hopeful that the city will once again top the regional meet after Baguio athletes pulled another above par performance in the 3rd POF where the City placed fourth.
About 10,000 delegates are expected to troop to the City in February coming from the different elementary and high school athletes participating in the four day sporting event.
