THE Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) Meet 2018 is opening on Monday, October 15, but playing venues will have yet to be finalized, Department of Education (DepEd) official said.

Bernabe Alicaya, DepEd Davao City sports coordinator, in a text interview with SunStar Davao Wednesday, said the 2 p.m. opening ceremonies will be held at the Davao City National High School (DCNHS).

Some 4,000 delegates of athletes and coaches are expected from eight unit delegations.

“There are eight units in elementary division and eight units in secondary, private and public schools. Venues not yet final,” Alicaya said, adding that Unit 4 dominated the annual meet last year.

However, other units will be no pushovers this time having just concluded their respective eliminations to send the best and finest athletes to the Dcaa Meet that serves as qualifying for the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2019 slated late January 2019.

Since Davao City is hosting the regional meet for the second time and the Palarong Pambansa next year, it's a tall order for Davao region to improve its ninth overall ranking in the last Palaro held in Ilocos Sur.

Thus, the upcoming Dcaa Meet 2018 and Davraa Meet 2019 will be crucial in forming the region's delegation to the Palaro 2019.

Davao City, Davraa Meet perenial overall champion, usually has the biggest number of qualified athletes for Palaro among neighboring cities and provinces in Davao Region.