City retains ZPRAA crown

ZAMBOANGA City grabbed 12 team titles in the secondary level and five in the elementary level to capture the overall championship crown in the 2012 Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Athletic Association (ZPRAA) meet.

The ZPRAA meet 2012 was held in Dapitan City, known as the Shrine City of the Philippines, from March 11-17.

Zamboanga has accumulated a total of 632.5 points, retaining its title for many years now.

The other participating contingent of ZPRAA 2012 were ranked as follows: Zamboanga del Norte, second with 582 points; Zamboanga del Sur, third with 431 points; Dipolog City, fourth with 294 points; Zamboanga Sibugay, 5th with 241.5 points; Pagadian City with 202.5 points; Isabela City with 201 points; and host Dapitan City at 8th with 122.5 points.

As this developed, Mayor Celso Lobregat expressed elation over the turnout of the ZPRAA Meet as he commended the athletes, coaches, trainers and Department of Education (DepEd) support staff for the job well done.

Lobregat said incentives will be given to the delegation in recognition of their efforts during the weeklong athletic competition.

He reiterated the city’s all-out support to sports and youth development.

City Division of Schools officer-in-charge Pedro Melchor Natividad likewise extolled the athlete’s determination to maintain the crown, adding that the Zamboanga delegation’s victory is a gift to Lobregat on his birthday.

Lobregat will be celebrating his 64th birthday on Tuesday.

Natividad thanked Lobregat and the members of the City Council, as well as second district Representative Erico Basilio Fabian and all other officials for the unceasing support to the athletes.

Lobregat, together with Fabian and the City Councilors, led the City Government delegation to Dapitan during the opening of ZPRAA meet to show support to the city’s 508-man contingent.

The City Government shouldered the expenses for food, transportation, and uniforms of the athletes. It also gave counterpart fund for the athletes’ allowances.

The Education department’s counterpart was P1,750 while the City Government, as per instruction of Lobregat, gave P600. (Bong Garcia)