The staging of the 2006 edition of the Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association Meet has been moved from April to March 12 to 18 in Roxas City, Capiz, an official of the Department of Education said yesterday.

The hosting of the competitions has been re-scheduled because it will be difficult to assign teachers responsibilities in April which is already their summer break, Dr. Eden Deriada, chief of the DepEd Physical Education and School Sports Division for Region VI, told the DAILY STAR.

Some of the athletes may also take their vacations in April and it would be inappropriate for coaches to organize their competitors for the regional event, Deriada said.

Capiz Gov. Vicente Bermejo and the members of the Capiz sports council has agreed to the re-scheduling of the hostilities in a meeting in Roxas City Tuesday.

Deriada said the WVRAA Meet organizers will also write a letter to acting DepEd Sec. Fe Hidalgo informing her about the decision to move the staging of the competitions.

A memorandum will also be forwarded to all school superintendents and sports councils to relay to them the outcome of the meeting, she said, adding that the memo will be completed as soon as the host city will be able to state all of its reasons for moving the event.

Negros brought home the overall championship of the secondary division in Iloilo City last year after bagging 90 golds, 60 silvers and 22 bronzes, while the Ilonggos ruled the elementary category.

DepEd's Nanette Roa said the winning coaches of the 2005 Palarong Panlalawigan in Bacolod City were called to a meeting Monday to prepare the Negros contingent for the regional meet.

The coaches finalized the listing and necessary documents needed by their athletes for the WVRAA competitions, she added.

The Provincial School Board has yet to allocate a budget for the Negrenses' campaign in the event, but they have always come up with a good finish even with minimal allocation, she said.

Area IV, bannered by standouts from Bago City, La Carlota City, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid, took the overall secondary and elementary crowns of the provincial meet last month. *CIT

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