The staging of the 2007 edition of the Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association Meet has been moved to Feb. 19-24 with majority of the events to be held at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Division Schools Supt. Eva Belicena yesterday said that the regional Palaro, initially slated on Feb. 11-16, has been rescheduled because there might be constraints in the release of funds by the School Board.

"Basically we only have one month left for the release of the funds if we decided to push through with the old schedule, but we could not stage the games without sufficient funding so we agreed to reset the meet," Belicena told the DAILY STAR.

Belicena, Region VI Department of Education director Victoriano Tirol Jr., Gov. Joseph Marañon and other DepEd officials agreed to the rescheduling during a meeting at the Provincial Capitol yesterday.

Marañon said the Provincial Government will give financial assistance for the school-based meet's hosting but the exact amount cannot be determined yet because most of the funds for this year have already been allocated to different projects. Tirol said that Marañon will also hold a "Welcome Governor's Night" to welcome all of the competing student-athletes from Negros, Capiz, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique and Guimaras.

Negros, which will field 376 standouts, swept the overall crowns in the elementary and secondary divisions of the weeklong hostilities that was held in Roxas City, Capiz last year.

Bacolod and Area IV are expected to spearhead the Negrenses title-retention bid after ruling the elementary and secondary categories, respectively, of the Palarong Panlalawigan last month.

It will be the first time that Negros will host the regional competitions since Bago hosted the meet in 2003 with Antique and Iloilo staging the event in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

The Negros contingent will be accommodated at the Bacolod City National High School for the regional Palaro, while the Aklan and Guimaras bets will be billeted at the Rizal Elementary School and Mabini Elementary School, respectively.

The Antique student-athletes will stay at the Mansilingan Agro-Industrial High School, while the Education and Training Center School will serve as the quarters for the Capiz delegation. Standouts from Iloilo will be accommodated at the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School I and II. *CIT

back to top

RP XI opens bid against Malaysia
Ramirez eyed to keynote WV Prisaa opening rites
Roach mulling Philippine training for Pacquiao