Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao says the province extends full support to their athletes joining the regional sports meet to be held in Roxas City, Capiz on February 17-23. (file photo)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Despite budget constraints, some 730 athletes and technical officials will represent Antique province in the 2019 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) meet to be held in Roxas City, Capiz on February 17-23.
Evelyn Remo, chief of the Department of Education-Antique Division School Governance and Operations Division, said Antique’s student-athletes will compete in different sports events, including three new regular sports.
“Antique will participate in the different sports events at the WVRAA,” Remo said in a media interview on Monday.
Remo said pencak silat, dance sports and aero gymnastics will be played as “regular sports” in the WVRAA beginning this year.
The three erstwhile demonstration sports are also expected to be included as regular sports in the 2019 edition of the Palarong Pambansa.
Meanwhile, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said the provincial government is giving its all-out support to the athletes who will leave for Roxas City on February 10.
“I will try my very best to be in Roxas City to inspire the athletes during the opening program,” Cadiao said in a separate media interview.
She said the provincial government is now expediting the purchase order requests for the needs of the athletes.
Cadiao said the budget allotted for the WVRAA-bound athletes could not be increased as planned due to failure to approve the annual budget for 2019.
“Instead of the PHP13 million to PHP15 million budget in 2019, the WVRAA budget will just be PHP9 million, similar to last year’s (budget),” she said.
She said that PHP9 million will not be enough, “especially because there are now new sports events.” (PNA)
