THE City Government of Naga, Cebu allocated more than P8 million for the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet, which will be held in the city on Sunday.
Majority of the money was used to buy sports equipment and improve the sports facilities, said City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong.
Chiong said the funds were sourced from the city’s Special Education Fund (SEF).
But as much as he wants all of the sports events held in his city, Chiong said swimming cannot be featured in Naga.
Chiong lamented that their P12-million Olympic-size swimming pool won’t be finished in time due to sudden weather changes.
He said the swimming event will have to be held at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC). But Dr. Senen Paulin, City of Naga Deped Division superintendent, told reporters yesterday that this is not the first time that a CVIRAA venue couldn’t hold a swim meet in their own turf.
Balamban
When Balamban became the host of the CVIRAA, their swim meet had to be held in Cebu City due to lack of facilities.
But while the swim meet will be held in Cebu City, Paulin said majority of the events will be held in the City of Naga.
Paulin said that 6,500 people from different delegations across Central Visayas will meet during the CVIRAA on Sunday.
In Naga, the city division is set to deploy around 279 athletes and less than 200 coaching staff.
Paulin said that, as of yesterday, the delegations from Bohol, Siquijor, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu Province and Cebu City are now in Naga and preparing for the CVIRAA.
Support
Chiong assured that aside from the city’s sports facilities, they also got support from some private entities like APO-Cemex and Salcon Power Corp. to sponsor venues for some of the sports events like taekwondo, wushu, basketball and futsal or indoor football.
Security in Naga will also be tight starting on Sunday after Chiong requested for additional police from the Cebu Provincial Police Office to help safeguard the delegates.