ILOILO — With nearly 7,000 athletes, coaches and officials expected to converge for the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet on March 17–22, 2026 in Passi City, the Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out strict heat safety protocols and energy conservation measures to protect participants amid rising heat index levels.
Organizers said competition schedules, health monitoring, and facility management systems have been adjusted to reduce exposure to extreme heat while ensuring responsible use of electricity and water during the six-day regional sporting event.
Dr. Leonerico Barredo, chief of the Education Support Services Division of DepEd-6, said most events will be held during cooler hours to safeguard athletes and reduce energy consumption in billeting areas.
“Our events are planned to take place in the morning, allowing athletes to be outdoors while significantly reducing occupancy in the billeting areas,” Barredo explained.
“This ensures that our accommodation facilities are not wasting energy, particularly electricity. We have an active accommodation committee monitoring usage to prevent unnecessary consumption,” Barredo added.
The WVRAA meet will gather delegations from eight schools division offices (SDOs) across Western Visayas — Iloilo, Iloilo City, Passi City, Capiz, Roxas City, Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras.
“Our preparations are going smoothly thanks to an active and supportive local government unit,” he said, referring to Passi City.
LGU support
The Passi City government has committed to help manage utilities during the event by assigning personnel to supervise electricity and water consumption in venues and billeting quarters.
Facilities not in active use will be temporarily powered down to prevent unnecessary consumption, organizers said.
Heat safety protocols
DepEd-6 also issued Memorandum 242, outlining safety measures to shield athletes and personnel from extreme heat.
Under the directive, schools division superintendents must ensure the availability of equipment designed to help reduce heat exposure for all participants.
A disaster risk reduction management committee will also monitor the heat index in real time, with updates to be posted on the WVRAA meet’s official Facebook page.
Health screening will also be implemented, including daily blood pressure checks before competitions to identify potential health concerns among athletes and staff.
Outdoor competitions will follow strict scheduling rules, with events set not earlier than 4 p.m. and not later than 9 a.m. to avoid peak daytime heat.
Regional sports showcase
This year’s WVRAA meet will feature 16 events in the elementary division, including girls’ futsal, and 25 events in the secondary division, with sports such as girls’ football and weightlifting for both male and female athletes.
Organizers said the measures aim to ensure the regional sports meet proceeds safely while promoting responsible energy use and environmental awareness.
As the competition approaches, DepEd-6 said it remains focused on delivering a safe, well-organized, and sustainable WVRAA meet for thousands of student-athletes across Western Visayas./PN