FOR the first time, the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet has an official mobile app, offering real-time updates on the medal tally, game schedules, playing venues, and billeting quarters.
Launched for the 2025 Davraa Meet 2025 in Davao del Norte, the app also features delegation profiles and interactive maps, making event information more accessible with just a tap.
According to DepEd Davao Region, the app aims to streamline updates and improve user experience for athletes, coaches, and spectators.
Neil Edward D. Diaz, DepEd Davao del Norte Division information officer and project development officer at the Learning Resource Management Section, was initially assigned to create a souvenir program in a shared PDF format.
However, he quickly realized that this traditional approach was labor-intensive and lacked the reach for such a large-scale event. Seeking a more efficient and engaging alternative, he proposed developing a mobile app instead.
"So instead, I proposed an innovative solution: developing an app, which is more convenient, flexible, attractive, and interactive," he said.
Despite budget constraints, Diaz found strong support for the project and received crucial data from the Department of Education-Division Office. He explained that developing the app didn’t require a massive budget, as he made use of free tools and available resources to bring his idea to life.
The app serves as a centralized hub for the event, providing real-time updates on schedules, delegation profiles, billeting quarters, playing venues, and medal tally updates.
Beyond its practical function, Diaz envisioned it as a platform to highlight Davao del Norte as the host division while also preserving the legacy of the games and chronicling the major events of the competition.
Diaz worked on the app single-handedly, but he wasn’t alone in ensuring its success. A core group of Davao del Norte teachers—Ben Ryan Sucuaje, Cee Jae Darunday, and Allen Kirk Veloso—will be responsible for updating the app in real-time once the Davraa Meet 2025 begins.
He also credits his expertise in interactive learning and open educational resources, gained through various DepEd seminars, including those conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, for helping him design an app suited to the event’s needs.
Diaz shared that developing the app took him over three weeks, and he continues to refine it as new data comes in.
Regular updates are necessary to keep the app accurate and up-to-date with the latest information.
He also noted that this is his first large-scale app, as his previous projects were mostly personal or educational. With over a decade of experience in government, he sees this as a significant milestone in his career. RGP