TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office (PRO-8) commended the orderly proceedings of the five-day Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet 2024, which ended on Friday (May 10) at the Ormoc City Sports Complex.
According to official reports, there were no major incidents recorded throughout the week-long athletic extravaganza, which kicked off on May 5, 2024.
EVRAA 2024, hailed as the region’s premier sporting event, was graciously hosted by the city government of Ormoc and its schools division, participated by more than 9,000 young athletes coming from the region’s 13 schools’ divisions.
“The tranquil and organized execution of EVRAA Meet 2024 is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our security forces and partner agencies in preemptively addressing potential threats and upholding the highest safety standards,” Police B/Gen. Reynaldo Pawid, police regional director, said.
“PRO 8 remains resolute in its commitment to fostering a safe and secure environment for all,” he added.
To ensure the safety of all attendees, PRO-8 implemented heightened security measures by deploying 892 police personnel alongside an additional 2,000 security personnel from various agencies, all dedicated to safeguarding the proceedings.
Also, medical teams and emergency responders remained on standby to promptly address any medical emergencies that might arise.
Officials confirmed that there were no reports of significant injuries or disruptions to the games, despite the sweltering heat index.
This year’s EVRAA Meet was dominated by the host city, garnering 411 medals harvest of which 217 were gold, 118 silver, and 76 bronze.
Former perennial champion, Leyte, landed as runner-up with a medal tally of 51 gold, 53 silver, and 58 bronze, followed by the regional capital of Tacloban City with 23 gold, 33 silver, and 42 bronze, and Maasin City with 23 gold, 26 silver, and 22 bronze.
In his message, Rep.Gomez, former city mayor, said that their decision to put a premium on sports development is now reaping based on the number of medals it harvested as it continues to dominate the regional sporting competition.
“It is an opportunity to uncover and nurture the top talent within the city, empowering the youth, our young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and dedication,” he said during the closing ceremonies.
“Additionally by engaging them in sports, we provide the youth with a positive outlet with an energy and creativity, steering them away from the influences that may lead to delinquency,” he added.
Before the closing ceremony, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced that an initial 497 athletes had qualified to participate and compete at the 2024 Palarong Pambansa which will hosted by Cebu City.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/RONALD REYES )
