THE City of Dapitan will be hosting the biggest sports event of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Zamboanga Peninsula Region, having awarded to host the Western Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (WMRAA) meet during a recent meeting at Dakak Park and Beach Resort.

Former congressman Romeo Jalosjos, who represented the city during the meeting with top DepEd officials in the region and members of the Regional Sports Council (RSC), said the city's bid to host the WMRAA has been approved by the education department during the same meeting last week, even as he said the city will have to prepare early for the sports event.

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DepEd-Western Mindanao Regional Director Walter Albos, also Regional Sports Council chairman, presided over the council meeting in Dakak last week mainly to decide which city will host the forthcoming WMRAA.

The City of Pagadian, which was reported earlier to be interested to host the 2010 WMRAA, withdrew its bid.

Another first to happen in Dapitan, Jalosjos said that the hosting of the WMRAA meet will be held earlier than its regular schedule next year due to the holding of the elections.

Series of top executives' meeting between representatives of the City Government of Dapitan under the leadership of Mayor Dominador Jalosjos Jr., and the City Schools Division under Superintendent Teodoro Dionglay Jr., are expected to firm up matters relevant to the holding of the sports event.

This early, the city mayor's Secretary, Alemarlou Dagpin, is scheduled to meet with City Schools Division officials for an inventory of the sports facilities to be used during the meet, which is expected to be held as early as February next year.

Dagpin said the city is bent on assuring efficient sports arenas for the WMRAA and better sports performances from it athletes next year.

"The City Government of Dapitan is keen on developing a sports complex for the hosting of the regional athletic competition in 2010," Dagpin said. "We have to be ready by the first quarter of 2010 to host the regional competition for athletes from all over the region."

Among the major facilities needed for the athletic games are track and field oval, swimming pool, and main grandstand for the staging of the weeklong WMRAA meet.

The development of sports facilities will be in full swing once the City Government finalizes partnership agreements with the Jose Rizal Memorial State College, one of the possible main venues, and other institutions that will help the city host the 2010 WMRAA.

Other plans call for better training of the city's athletes, as the city gears up its bid to reign supreme in this sports activities.