FOLLOWING the postponement of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa), three local government units (LGU) in the region are eyed as host from 2021 to 2023.
With Baguio City hosting the regional meet which was moved to March 24 to 28, the Department of Education–Cordillera (DepEd–CAR) got verbal intention from three LGUs to host the annual regional sports meet which gathers close to 7,000 delegates from six provinces and two cities.
Georaloy Palao–ay, information officer of DepEd–CAR, said the provinces of Abra, Benguet and Kalinga have signified their intention to host Caraa within the next three years.
Palao-ay said all LGUs wanting to host the regional sports meet should have a rubberized track based on the criteria set by Republic Act 10588 or the Palarong Pambansa Act.
Benguet and Kalinga has yet to transform their oval into a rubberized track while Abra, which hosted Caraa two years ago have already installed a tartan track.
The DepEd official added investing in quality sports facility is one way of boosting the development of athletes in the grassroots.
The early identification of hosts will ensure well prepared sports facilities, billeting schools as well as athletes and coaches as LGUs will have ample time to prepare standard sports facilities as well as enough billeting centers for student-athletes.
“Also, our Local Government Units (LGUs) whether from the barangay level up to the provincial level will be able to gauge their budget allotments relative to sports development and participation to competitions such as the CARAA for the next three years,” he added.
Aside from the facilities, Palao-ay added the host locality should have available basic services such as medical and dental, communications, water and electric power supply and the peace and order situation in the locality must be excellent and conducive to the holding of the regional activity.
“With the best sports facilities, we can train and be more competitive in our engagements in different sports competitions here or abroad; not only for CARAA or Palarong Pambansa but also in other national and international sports competition,” Palao-ay added.
The Caraa board on January 31 held an emergency meeting and moved the annual sports meet right after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong declared to have the opening parade and the drum and lyre competition of the 25th season of the Panagbenga canceled to avoid big crowds to avoid the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus.
“We are postponing the sports meet to a later date for health security reasons due to the prevailing international health issue,” Magalong said.
Baguio will defend the overall champion after hauling 205-110-79 gold-silver-bronze during the games held in Apayao last year.
Aside from Baguio and Apayao, competing LGUs include Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Tabuk City.