WITH barely three weeks before action starts at the 2010 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa), the Ifugao Provincial Government assured the playing venue will be completed before the opening sometime during the second week of February.
"Preparations are being done specially in the playing venues. It's very difficult but we will make it," assured Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat in a text message.
Baguilat said the events will be played mainly in Lagawe but some adjacent towns like Kiangan might host some events.
"We need to prepare our athletic grounds and improve our sports facility for the upcoming Caraa games," Baguilat said.
He added basic needs for the athletes such as water and sanitation will also be fixed in time for the regional sports meet.
About 3,500 athletes from Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mt. Province are expected to see action in the region's largest sporting spectacle with at least 48 disciplines to be played in the weeklong sports event.
Lagawe Mayor Ceasario Cabbigat according to the Philippine Information Agency in Ifugao said Caraa, being one of the largest sporting events in the region, solicited for the cooperation of all sectors to in keeping the peace and order before, during and after the athletic events.
"We should help one another in keeping peace and order so our visitors from the other provinces of the Cordilleras will feel at home during their stay here," Cabbigat according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) report.
Before barangay captains, non-government organizations, and the religious sector, Cabbigat said discipline is needed in order to meet the necessary objective of this big event.
Members of the peace and order council of the municipality are expected to come up with a traffic management plan for jeepney and tricycle drivers. Town officials have also requested operators not to increase their fares during the weeklong event.
The local police force is also being asked to beef up its manpower during the competitions to be able to conduct checkpoints and maintain peace and order and the security of the more than 3,000 athletes from around the region. (Roderick Osis)