REGIONAL SPORTS MEET. Antiqueño athletes join the parade during the opening program of the regional sports competition hosted by Roxas City, Capiz in 2019. Antique will be sending its delegation to the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association on March 14 in Aklan province, this year's host. (Photo courtesy of PIO Antique)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Antique will be sending a delegation of 500 athletes and technical officials to the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet to be hosted by Aklan on March 21-28.
Department of Education-Antique Superintendent Felisa Beriong said in an interview on Tuesday that the athletes will leave on March 14, a week before the start of the WVRAA event, so that they could practice in the different playing venues at the Calangcang Sports Complex in Makato, Aklan.
The WVRAA was rescheduled by the DepEd Regional Office 6 because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) scare. It was originally set last month but 11 Chinese tourists, who were supposed to take a vacation in Boracay Island, were quarantined at the Aklan Provincial Hospital as a precautionary measure against Covid-19.
Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said during a press conference Monday that the provincial government has extended a financial assistance of PHP5 million to the Antique delegation for their training and allowances.
“The provincial government of Antique is fully supportive of our athletes,” she said.
Cadiao, together with the other provincial government officials, will attend the WVRAA to give moral support to the athletes.
“I encourage also the mayor and other local chief executives to go see the sports event in Aklan,” she said.
Cadiao said she believes their presence would inspire the athletes to excel in their various sports competitions. (PNA)
