AT LEAST two provinces are being considered to host the 2018 edition of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa).
Department of Education (DepEd) - Cordillera information officer Georaloy Palao-ay said Abra and Apayao are keen on hosting the largest gathering of elementary and high school athletes in the region next year but no final arrangement has been made yet.
“Both provinces have signified but we will still finalize who will be the probable host,” said Palao-ay.
Apayao already hosted the regional sports meet in 2013 upon the completion of its sports complex located in Payanan, Luna while Abra has yet to complete its sports facility.
Governor Elias Bulut Jr. said Apayao is always eager to host major regional and national gatherings because it is an added promotion for the province as one of the preferred ecotourist destinations in the north because of the unique state their environment.
The province’s sports complex was completed right before the opening of Caraa a few years back which hosted for the first time the regional sports meet which got good feedback from the other province delegates including perennial host Baguio City.
Abra, meanwhile, is trying to catch up in terms of sports facilities following the expected completion of a P150 million sports complex in Bangued to boost its chances of hosting local, regional, national and even international sports events.
The P150 million was acquired thru a loan from Land Bank of the Philippines secured by former Governor Eustaquio Bersamin in 2015.
Based on the proposed plan, the sports complex includes an Olympic size swimming pool, athletes’ quarters and a rubberized track oval.
Abra was supposed to host the 2012 Caraa meet but it was Kalinga which was given the green light to host the regional sports meet by DepEd.
