A TOTAL of 617 athletes and coaches of the Davao City Athletic Association (Dcaa) started their training and quartering last January 3 at Mintal Elementary School (MES), the official billeting center of the host city delegation in the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2019 slated January 27 to February 2.

Department of Education (Deped) Davao City sports coordinator Bernabe Alicaya, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao Monday, January 7, said, "So far, so good."

He said, "The quartering will end on January 26. However, student athletes usually from private schools are staying in their respective schools while the rest are at the billeting center for the entire duration of the training up to the Davraa Meet."

Coaches also attended a solidarity meeting set December 27 to 29, 2018 to prepare them for the training period.

"All meals, snacks as well as vitamins and uniforms are provided by the city government for the regional meet. The security forces and the 24-hour medical station as well. Everything is provided," Alicaya said.

Deped Davao City, according to him, provides human resource for the training preparations of the athletes.

When asked about if the 23-day training period is enough to produce competitive and champion caliber athletes, he was quick to reply: "I can't say. Depende sa strength sa athletes, sa iyang raw capacity."

The city-funded training period may be short but some Davraa-bound athletes and teams have been preparing since last year.

Meanwhile, Alicaya said he does not want to comment on the status of the Davao City-University of the Philippines Sports Complex swimming pool. "As far as I know the city government is moving heaven and earth for this hosting," he said, adding that the Davraa Meet 2019 opening ceremonies will be held at the city sports complex in Tugbok District.

The Davao City Durians held the Davraa Meet overall title for several years and aims to retain its dominance anew this year.

The city will also host this year's Palarong Pambansa.