BENGUET Governor Crescencio Pacalso manifested the province’s full support in the upcoming Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association meet (Caraa) in Abra on February 4 to 9.
"As far as Caraa is concerned, as long as there is no report from the Philippine National Police that it is not safe to go, tuloy pa rin. Nevertheless, we also recognize and accept if some parents opted not to go", Pacalso said.
Parents of athletes earlier expressed their concern and thinking of pulling out their children after the bombing incident in La Paz, Abra last January 25.
Mayclaire Jimenez of the Department of Education’s School Mobilization and Networking appraised the Benguet board on Monday stating some parents of Caraa bound athletes representing the province is planning of pulling out due to safety and security during the week long competition.
Jimenez however said Benguet’s line-up for the upcoming sports meet will not be affected as substitute athletes were also included in the final list submitted to the regional office of DepEd.
During a meeting last Friday, only 12 of the 75 coaches and members of the technical working group who attended the meeting voted to join this year’s Caraa while 21 abstained, and 42 were undecided.
"Hindi natin maiwasan na may magback-out. We are still tallying the data as to who and how many students are now permitted by their parents," said DepEd Benguet division sports coordinator Ceasar Luma-ang.
Luma-ang, in lieu of the reported back out, has ordered the coaches to immediately replace the athletes
Abra Governor Jocelyn Bernos during Monday’s meeting at the DepEd regional office reiterated Abra remains safe and called the bombing incident in La Paz town and isolated case as security efforts during the weeklong sports competition were already doubled.
The Benguet board meanwhile is mulling of giving additional security for the 568 delegates of the province from the provincial police office.