DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte has reminded athletes and sports officials participating in the Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) competitions to take care of their health as they will be playing amid the high heat index associated with the summer season and the El Niño phenomenon.

“Mag-remind lang ko sa mga coaches ug atong mga officials na kung init na kaayo ang panahon, taas na kaayo ang adlaw pwede ninyo i-undang ang dula,” the Vice President reminded the DAVRAA delegates during the opening ceremonies of the annual regional games.

(I will remind our coaches and our officials if it is very hot, when the sun is high you can stop the games.)

Duterte told officials not to force athletes if they themselves would have difficulty because of the heat as she also reminded the athletes not to be shy when calling for timeout or substitution if they are not feeling well.

City mayor the city hosted DAVRAA to prepare for the hosting of the much larger Palarong Pambansa.

She cited the City Government of Davao for hosting this year’s DAVRAA, which she noticed is much better than the ones hosted during her time.

“Mahinumdoman nako dili ing-ani ka malipayon, dili ing ani  ka garbo, dili ing ani ka nindot ang amuang paghost sa DAVRAA tong nilabay na mga tuig na Mayor ko dinhi sa Davao. I‘d like to congratulate the city government of Davao assisted by the different national agencies..” the Vice President said in her speech.

(I remember it was not as fun, it was not as grand, it was not as nice as our hosting of the DAVRAA in the years when I was Mayor of Davao City.)

Medal Race

As of 1 p.m. of April 2, Davao Oriental bagged two medals one gold and one silver. Davao City had one gold medal courtesy of Mary Jane Pagayon who ruled the 3,000-meter run to become the first DAVRAA 2024 gold medalist.

Digos City had one silver medal and Davao de Oro had one bronze medal to round out the medal winners on the first day of the meet.  (RGA/PIA Davao)