ILOILO City – Iloilo has once again clinched the overall championship in the Western Visayas Regional Athletics Association (WVRAA) Meet 2024 held in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental from May 2 to 7.
The delegation, comprising athletes from both the city and province of Iloilo, dominated the competition, securing the championship titles across the Elementary, Secondary, Paragames, and Demo Sports categories.
The team was represented by 837 delegates, including 543 athletes, and amassed a total of 218 gold, 159 silver, and 111 bronze medals.
This marks the second consecutive year that Iloilo has swept the championships at all levels.
Here are the summarized results of the WVRAA 2024:
Elementary Level
* Champion – Iloilo (72 gold, 51 silver and 38 bronze)
* 1st Runner-up – Negros Occidental (64 golds, 64 silver, and 49 bronze)
* 2nd Runner-up – Aklan (12 gold, 10 silver and 42 bronze)
Secondary Level
* Champion – Iloilo (103 gold, 76 silver, and 64 bronze)
* 1st Runner-up – Negros Occidental (88 gold, 86 silver and 73 bronze)
* 2nd Runner-up – Aklan (26 gold, 41 silver and 42 bronze)
For Paragames
* Champion – Iloilo (37 gold, 25 silver and seven bronze)
* 1st Runner-up – Negros Occidental (18 gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze)
* 2nd Runner-up – Aklan (10 gold, eight silver, and nine bronze)
For Demo Sport
* Champion – Iloilo (six gold, seven silver and two bronze)
* 1st Runner-up – Capiz (four gold, three silver and seven bronze)
* 2nd Runner-up – Aklan (four gold, three silver, and five bronze)
Last year’s WVRAA in Makato, Aklan, Iloilo harvested 229 gold, 154 silver and 100 bronze medals in all three categories (regular events, demo sports and paragames).
Reflecting on the factors contributing to Iloilo’s success, Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr., Schools Division Superintendent, highlighted the importance of early and extensive preparation.
“The complete training activity is a big factor, with 35 training days because we started our lower-level meets early,” Servillon told Panay News.
Support from the Iloilo provincial government, led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., and the Department of Education (DepEd) in Iloilo Province, alongside onsite guidance from delegation officials, coaches, and supporters, played a big role in the victory, he added.
Servillon also emphasized the motivational impact of early allowance distribution and the promise of cash incentives from the provincial government.
The provision of cash incentives to athletes, coaches, trainers, chaperones, and assistant coaches who secure medals has been institutionalized through Provincial Ordinance No. 2020-217. This ordinance mandates rewards and recognition for those who excel in sports competitions sanctioned by the Department of Education, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
WVRAA medalists will be receiving the following:
Athletes
* Gold – P5,000
* Silver – P3,000
* Bronze – P2,000
Coaches
* Gold – P5,000
* Silver – P3,000
* Bronze – P2,000
Assistant Coaches
* Gold – P3,000
* Silver – P2,5000
* Bronze – P2,000
Trainers
* Gold – P5,000
* Silver – P3,000
* Bronze – P2,000
Chaperones
* Gold – P2,000
* Silver – P1,500
* Bronze – P1,000
Following the victory at the WVRAA 2024, Servillon announced that preparations would immediately commence for the upcoming Palarong Pambansa 2024, scheduled to take place in Cebu City from July 6 to 17.
“Our goal this time is to be the champion,” said Servillon./PN
