BACNOTAN, La Union (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) in Ilocos is preparing for the upcoming 2025 Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet to be staged in this municipality from March 10 to 15.
R1AA is an annual athletic event hosted by DepEd where hundreds of student-athletes from various school divisions across the region come together to compete.
It serves as the screening and qualifying level of the region’s representatives for the Palarong Pambansa.
Around 10,000 student-athletes, coaches, facilitators, and officials are expected to participate in this year’s R1AA, where 23 sports events will be exhibited.
According to Project Development Officer IV Darius Nieto of DepEd Ilocos’ Education Support Services Division, the department, in coordination with the provincial government of La Union and the local government of Bacnotan, is almost ready for the annual regional athletic event.
“We are generally ready, and we are now working on the final preparations of some sports facilities that we will be needing during the series of activities,” Nieto said during the Kumustahan sa DepEd Rehiyon Uno.
The main playing venue will be at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus located here, while most of the sports activities will be conducted in the different schools in town.
On the other hand, the public schools of Luna, Balaoan, San Juan, and Bangar, as well as the city of San Fernando, will be used as billeting quarters for the participants.
“Considering that we can only house a maximum of 15 individuals in one classroom per guidelines, we decided to tap the adjacent municipalities to serve as billeting areas,” Nieto said.
However, he also noted that due to the unavailability of standard facilities for gymnastics and swimming in La Union, said sports events will be held simultaneously in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
Further, the selection of tournament managers has been completed, while the accreditation of technical officials for sports events is partially done and ongoing.
DepEd also ensured that standby ambulance and medical teams will be stationed across the different playing venues and billeting schools.
Meanwhile, Jenmar Sevillena, coach of the football team of the Sual National High School (SNHS), said they are now working double time for the players’ training, aiming to bring home the championship in the upcoming meet.
“We are having a 20-day in-school training and then another five-day in-house training so we can really focus on improving the athlete’s skills prior to the game,” Sevillena said.
Through the R1AA, DepEd promotes physical education and sports as an integral part of basic education and fosters the values of sportsmanship, discipline, fairness, and teamwork among the youth.
Cris Lawrence Gonzales, SNHS football team captain, noted how sports contributed to his overall values as a student and an athlete.
“Sports, through our coaches, made us more disciplined and taught us how to be more respectful to our fellow athletes. And as a student-athlete, it trains me how to better manage my time and priorities,” stated Gonzales.
The 2024 R1AA Meet was held in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, and the 2026 R1AA will be hosted by Candon City, Ilocos Sur. (AMB/CGCC, PIA Region 1)
