FOR the first time, Davao City will host the National Private Schools
Athletic Association (Prisaa) Games on its 63rd year on May 19 to 24.
What makes this city hosting different though from the 62 other stagings
in the past is maximizing local manpower for the conduct of the 22 events
entered in the sportsfest for high school and college student-athletes.
National Prisaa president Ma. Lita Montalban, during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao Thursday, January 17, said gone are the days when technical officials from Metro Manila will be brought to wherever is the venue of the national meet, thereby, bleeding the organization of huge sum of money for their air fares, accommodations and allowances.
The proud Dabawenya, also owner and president of Emar Human and Environmental College, said a new management structure will handle the conduct of the games with University of Mindanao (UM) sports director Joaquin “Boy” Sarabia as executive director of the 63rd National Prisaa Games 2019.
It wil be Sarabia’s call as to who will be the referees, judges and umpires in different sports and he is expected to tap the services of equally competent and credible technical officials that Davao region has to offer.
“We have the best referees in Davao,” Montalban said, confident that her fellow Dabawenyos will live up to expectations.
It is also interesting to note that all 17 regional Prisaa presidents, representing all participating regions, will oversee different sports as chairpersons so that all concerns in the conduct of games in every sport will be dealt with immediately.
Only minor details have yet to be finalized but preparations are already at 85 percent with different government agencies giving their full support such as the Philippine Sports Commission, city government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office and City Health Office, provincial government of Davao del Norte and city government of Tagum (which will host swimming and beach volleyball), Department of Education (Deped) 11 and Deped Davao City, Public Safety Command Center, City Transport and Traffic Management Office and Davao City Police Office, among others.