PASSI CITY, Iloilo — Nearly 7,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from across Western Visayas converge in Passi City as the 2026 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet officially opens today, marking one of the region’s largest school sporting gatherings.
More than 4,000 student-athletes representing eight Schools Division Offices are competing in the weeklong tournament from March 17 to March 22, as host city Passi rolls out extensive preparations to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the regional games amid concerns over extreme heat.
The regional meet will showcase athletes from Aklan (641), Antique (577), Capiz (544), Guimaras (362), Iloilo Province (654), Iloilo City (620), Passi City (535), and Roxas City (478).
Leonerico Barredo, chief of the Education Support Services Division, said organizers are implementing strict heat‑safety measures to protect athletes during competitions.
He emphasized the importance of scheduling outdoor events during cooler parts of the day to reduce exposure to extreme temperatures.
“Outdoor events will be scheduled before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. to minimize exposure to extreme temperatures,” Barredo said.
DepEd Region 6 has also issued Memorandum No. 242 directing school officials to provide the necessary equipment and resources to help participants cope with high temperatures.
The regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee will post daily heat index updates on the WVRAA’s official Facebook page, while event personnel will undergo daily blood pressure checks before competing.
Accommodation teams from each Schools Division Office are also being organized to manage electricity and water use in billeting areas, with personnel from the Passi City government supervising the fair distribution of utilities.
The 2026 WVRAA Meet marks a significant shift in the regional competition landscape, as Negros Occidental will not participate for the first time following the creation of the Negros Island Region.
While most competitions will be held in Passi City, selected events will take place in other venues due to facility requirements.
Swimming competitions will be staged at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City, while football matches will be played at the Barotac Nuevo football field, widely recognized as the football capital of the Philippines.
The formal opening ceremony will be held today, with competitions scheduled from March 18 until noon on March 22.
During the third coordination meeting, DepEd‑6 unveiled the official logo for the games, highlighting Western Visayas’ athletic spirit and cultural heritage.
The emblem features a torch formed by the intertwined letters “V” and “W,” symbolizing Western Visayas and the essence of sportsmanship, along with a “lambong” design inspired by the Pintados de Pasi Festival that incorporates tribal patterns representing Passi City.
The torch in the logo symbolizes the energy, determination, and unity of the athletes, while its colors represent the eight Schools Division Offices participating in the meet.
This year’s regional sports gathering carries the theme “Stronger Champions, Greater Heights,” underscoring Western Visayas’ continuing commitment to developing young athletes while strengthening unity and sportsmanship across the region./PN
