ILOILO – Passi City has intensified infrastructure upgrades and inter-agency coordination ahead of its hosting of the 2026 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet on March 17, 2026.
Nearly 5,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from across Region 6 are expected to participate in the annual sports meet.
Mayor Stephen Palmares inspected ongoing improvements at the Passi City Sports Complex and other designated playing venues, including Man-it Elementary School, to ensure facilities meet regional hosting standards.
Joining the inspection were Engr. Eduard Oren of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd Engineering District, Passi City Sports Director Randy Palomaria, and Passi City Engineer Agnes Hope Palmares.
City officials also convened with the Regional and Division Technical Working Groups (TWGs) for the 2026 WVRAA on February 18 at the City of Passi Arena to align operational plans and finalize preparations for the regional meet.
The meeting, presided over by Passi City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Nicasio Frio, brought together representatives from the Passi City local government, the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Passi City, and the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office VI.
Dr. Leonerico Barredo, Chief Education Supervisor of the Education Support Services Division (ESSD) of DepEd 6, presented key updates on preparations, including committee terms of reference, identified concerns, required resources, and next steps to ensure a smooth and successful staging of the games.
Mayor Palmares emphasized the city’s readiness: “As host city, Passi is fully committed to providing not only quality venues and facilities, but also a safe, organized, and inspiring environment for our young athletes. Through strong coordination and teamwork, we will make the 2026 WVRAA Meet a showcase of excellence and regional pride.”
The scale of preparations reflects the magnitude of the annual regional sporting event. Data from DepEd Region 6 showed 826 delegates from Aklan, 895 from Antique, 741 from Capiz, 519 from Guimaras, 873 from Iloilo, and 872 from Negros Occidental.
A total of 24 sporting events were contested in last year’s meet, including archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards, boxing, chess, dance sports, football, futsal, gymnastics, Para games, pencak silat, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu.
In the 2025 edition, Iloilo emerged champion in the secondary and Para games categories, while Negros Occidental ruled the elementary division.
With construction works underway and coordination mechanisms in place, Passi City aims to deliver a region-wide sporting event that highlights not only athletic excellence but also the city’s capability to host one of Western Visayas’ biggest annual youth gatherings./PN
