BAGUIO CITY – Hosting of this year’s Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) is practically assured with all the stakeholders formalizing their support during a commitment signing on Friday at the Baguio City Hall and the assurance of the readiness of the facilities.
“We are very much ready,” said Department of Education (DepEd) Baguio assistant superintendent Soraya Faculo, who prepared this year’s CARAA budget right after the declaration of Baguio as host in December last year.
“(It’s) all systems go for the hosting of the CARAA,” she said.
DepEd Cordillera, DepEd Baguio, city officials, Baguio Water District, among others formalized their support for the sports meet set from Feb. 16-21.
It will bring to the city about 7,000 athletes, coaches and members of the delegation from the CAR provinces and cities- Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and the cities of Tabuk and Baguio.
“Stakeholders responded to our issues on water availability, food safety, price regulation, transportation and traffic, security, disaster management, and emergency response,” Faculo said.
“Baguio General Hospital pledged to give free medical services for the athletes. (The Emergency Medical Service) EMS, BB-Picag (a local emergency medical response group) and other volunteer groups will complement the DepEd health and DRRM (Disaster Response and Rescue Management) staff,” she added.
The BWD committed 50 drums of water daily for each of the eight-member province/cities for the personal use of athletes including bathing and toilet use.
The CARAA will be staged in various venues of the city with the Baguio athletic bowl as the main venue and where most of the 21 events will take place.
Baguio is the defending overall champion of CARAA with 205-110-79 gold-silver-bronze medal haul during the games held in Apayao last year.
Baguio’s gold output is more than half of the 409 total gold medals given during the meet.
The host was a surprise runner-up displacing traditional bridesmaid Benguet after coming home with 69-76-79 output, followed by Abra (39-48-88) and Benguet which dipped to a record low of 35-66-83. Ifugao was fifth (27-48-71), followed by Mountain Province (16-25-44), Tabuk City (12-29-37) and Kalinga (6-6-19). (PNA)
