BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson was not happy with the performance of the Negros Occidental delegation in the recently-concluded Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet held in the province of Aklan.
“If you ask me if I am happy, I’m not. We got beaten,” Lacson said.
Negros Occidental placed first runner-up to overall champion Iloilo.
Before the pandemic in 2019, Negros Occidental was the champion in the elementary category and first runner-up in the secondary category.
“We have to catch up with Iloilo,” Lacson said.
Among the sports that Negros Occidental excelled in were volleyball and swimming.
For other sports such as chess, the province performed poorly, only ending up with a bronze medal in the elementary category.
Since Lacson sponsored several chess tournaments in the province, he was surprised by the performances.
“Are we not reaching out to the younger set?” Lacson pointed out, adding that he wanted the province’s sports programs to be developmental, targeting young athletes.
Despite the performance, however, Lacson still thanked the schools, parents, coaches, and sponsors for doing what they could for the athletes.
In the meantime, Lacson plans to review the sports program in the province, especially for those who cannot access private sponsors./PN
