KIDAPAWAN CITY- The Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) meet enters its penultimate day today with some 4,000 athletes and their officials hopeful that the regional games will produce champions in this year’s Palarong Pambansa to be held in the Visayas.
Arturo Bayucot, regional director of the Department of Education, told mediamen during the meet’s opening ceremonies at the sprawling provincial sports complex located at the Cotabato capitol grounds in Barangay Amas, this city, that the athletes and officials are also excited about the entry of billiards, futsal and wushu as regular events in the regional athletic meet for the first time.
Bayucot led games officials in holding the press conference inside the office of Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza .They answered questions of media practitioners from Region 12’s four provinces and five cities about security, accommodation and training of the athletes.
Bayucot said winning teams and individuals in the SRAA meet will immediately be trained in the various Palaro games with the help of a former Olympian hired by DepED.
He thanked Governor Mendoza for accepting the challenge of hosting the regional games last held in Kidapawan years ago.
Provincial board member Omar Cadungon said the Cotabato LGU allocated P2.5 million for the hosting.
Cadungon said the hosting will benefit the province in terms of tourism and the local economy as there will be an increase in the number of visitors and money in circulation in the locality.
Mrs. Mendoza hosted the Governor’s Night in the evening of the games’ opening last Saturday.
