IN A bid to ensure the successful staging of the annual Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) sports meet, host province Apayao and the Department of Education (DepEd) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA).

Slated February 27 to March 5, the weeklong meet will feature 23 sports including three new events, aero gymnastics, pencak silat, and dance sports with bulk of the games to be played at the Apayao Ecotourism and Sports Complex in Luna town.

Present during the MOA signing are Governor Elias Bulut Jr., DepEd-CAR assistant director Bettina Daytec Aquino, Apayao deputy provincial director for administration Superintendent Jefferson Cariaga, Apayao schools division superintendent Ronald Castillo and DepEd regional sports coordinator Georaloy Palao-ay.

“We are sealing this partnership with our host LGUs to ensure mutual cooperation and achieve a successful staging of Caraa,” said Daytec - Aquino.

Under the MOA, DepEd and Apayao “will coordinate for the necessary security measures, transportation and communication, and other requirements for the conduct of the 2019 CARAA meets including the playing facilities and billeting quarters for the participating divisions and regional technical officials.”

Bulut meanwhile welcomed the partnership anew as it hosts the largest sports meet in the region for the second time.

“We want to showcase our improved sports complex and playing venues and at the same time promote our tourist spots to all visitors who will be watching Caraa,” said Bulut.

Apayao’s preparation of the annual sports meet is now in full swing with the installation of its rubberized track oval at the Apayao Ecotourism and Sports Complex located in Payanan, in Luna town.

Vincent Talattag, Apayao provincial administrator said P60 million was earmarked for the installation of the tartan tracks and the improvement of the different playing venues.

Bulut meanwhile stressed the province remain peaceful but security for at least 6,000 participants are now in place.

Cariaga added he remains confident of the security measures will be enough with the deployment of the force multipliers.

“For the peace and order situation in Apayao, we all know that the province holds the lowest crime volume in the Cordillera. In preparation for Caraa, we already conducted capability building activities for our PNP and other security personnel,” said Cariaga.

The police officer assured all playing venues, and billeting areas will have enough security and confident the holding of Caraa in the province will be peaceful and manage properly.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones is set to grace the opening of the sports meet. (with a report from Lauren Alimondo)