BE REST assured, some 7,000 delegates will not be left on the cold as they will have mattresses to sleep on when the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2018 unfurls on February 17 to 23 in Davao City.
Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge Mikey Aportadera, in Thursday’s Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao, said Department of Education (Deped) Davao City and the City Government of Davao already have some 3,500 mats available this early and will be completing the needed required number before delegates start coming in.
"I doubt if the mayor will also allow us to see all these delegates sleeping on floors or cartons. Mandato na sa atong mayor (That's the mandate of the mayor), she is more concerned on the welfare sa mga bisita (of the visitors) that's why June or July last year start na among (we started our) meetings with Deped," Aportadera said.
It can be recalled that in the first few days of the 2017 Palarong Pambansa in Antique, some delegates of Davraa and other regions slept on cartons or makeshift mats, a picture of which was posted on SunStar Davao Facebook on April 18, 2017, resulting to 251,400 reach with 62,800 engagement online. The paper also published a story and editorial on the issue.
Aportadera also said that the city is 80 percent ready for its hosting preparations since repairs and rehabilitation of other venues and billeting areas are still ongoing.
With 11 participating Deped divisions, the city sports chief said 11 schools will be utilized for billeting centers.
Aportadera continued, "More shower rooms are being put up in billeting centers, also making sure that there will be ample water and power supply, surroundings are clean and security plan in place."
Repairs of roads leading to playing venues and billeting centers are also being completed.
He cited that the boxing gym at the back of Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center is being cleaned and readied as training venue for Davraa boxers.
Instead of the initial plan to hold the boxing competition at the Rizal Park, he said it will be held at the Almendras Gym instead.
"We don't want athletes playing under the scorching heat of the sun," he said.
A media center will be put up at the Deped Davao City Division.
However, the Davraa swimming competition will be conducted at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City since the Davao City-UP Sports Complex swimming pool will not be ready yet nor completed in time for the regional meet.
Davraa swimmers will be transported to Tagum where they will also be billeted.
Senator Manny Pacquiao and Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz were invited to grace the opening and closing ceremonies, respectively.