ILOILO – Showing strong support for grassroots sports and youth development, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has committed ₱12.3 million in financial assistance to help the province’s delegation compete in the Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte from May 24 to June 2.
The funding, allocated to the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Iloilo, will cover essential needs of the delegation, including transportation, food, and allowances for athletes, coaches, and support staff.
Data from DepEd Region 6 showed around 230 delegates from the province — including athletes, coaches, and staff from Iloilo and Passi City — are departing for Laoag on May 17.
This is not the first time the provincial government has extended financial support to its athletes. In March 2025, during the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet held at the Binirayan Sports Complex in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, the province also provided ₱11.4 million in assistance to the Schools Division Office – Iloilo Province.
Team Iloilo emerged as overall champion in the WVRAA Meet 2025, dominating both the secondary level and the Paragames category.
In the 2024 edition of the Palarong Pambansa held in Cebu City, Western Visayas secured third place overall with a medal haul of 56 golds, 41 silvers, and 41 bronzes. The region delivered strong performances in athletics, swimming, taekwondo, softball, table tennis, tennis, chess, basketball, arnis, sepak takraw, wushu, baseball, badminton, volleyball, gymnastics, and boxing.
That year, the Western Visayas delegation included 933 members — 601 athletes, 136 coaches and chaperones, and 196 management and committee personnel.
Of the athletes, 214 competed at the elementary level, 346 at the secondary level, and 41 in Paragames./PN
