DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- Various sporting facilities in Davao City will be ready when it hosts the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) Meet on April 1 to 7.

Mikey Aportadera, head of the City Sports Development Division and spokesperson of Davao City DAVRAA, said that even during the Holy Week, they will be busy preparing the billeting areas and playing venues of the event.

“Gahapon, nagcheck ko sa mga playing venues like tung naa pay repairs na kinahanglan in place naman tanan. Nalipay ako na ok ang cooperation sa mga playing venues and katong mga kaubanan nato sa laing mga ahensiya has been diligently working gina sigurado namo na in place na tanan” Aportadera said during his radio interview on March 26.

(Yesterday (March 25),I checked the playing venues like those that needed repairs. Everything is in place. I am happy with the cooperation of the playing venues and our partners in the different agencies. They have been diligently working to make sure everything is in place.)

Except for the swimming competitions which will be held in the Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City, the aquatics facility of the Davao City Sports Complex located in the UP Mindanao campus was not completed in time due to the facility sustaining damage during a strong earthquake that struck the city.

The sports complex in UP Mindanao will host the opening and closing ceremonies, events such as archery, football and volleyball will also be held at the sports complex. Athletics, softball and basketball women will be held at the University of Mindanao. Arnis and Gymnastics will be played at the Malayan Colleges.

Davao. Bocce will be at the Davao City Special School (SPED Bangkal). Billiards and softball games will be played at the Davao City National High School.

Chess matches will be hosted by Chong Hua High School. Sepak Takraw will be played at Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School.  Villafuerte Elementary School will be the venue for baseball games. Table Tennis events are to be held at Barangay Calinan Gym.

Barangay Mintal Gym will host Futsal competitions. Badminton games will be played at the Smash and Drop Gym. Tennis (secondary) will be held at the GSIS Tennis Courts while Tennis (elementary) will be played at the Toril Tennis Courts

Aportadera said they are expecting the DAVRAA athletes to arrive by March 30 to 31. The city is expecting 7,000 delegates from all over the region.

“We are making sure that the billeting quarters are in place para sa pag-abot (arrival) sa delegates sa 30 o 31 andam na tanan (everything is ready). We have a series of meetings already with our DAVRAA execom and our security clusters. We are ready and in different aspects in our preparation everything is in place. We are all good,” Aportadera said. (RGA/PIA Davao)