Zambales hosts CLRAA meet

MANILA, Philippines - Zambales returns to the Philippine sports map starting tomorrow with its hosting of the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) meet at the newly refurbished Zambales Sports Complex in the capital of Iba.

It took 18 years for Zambales to again host the annual competition after Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. boosted the province’s sports program, which includes the refurbishment of sports facilities that deteriorated for almost two decades and the hosting of sports competitions.

Some 12,000 athletes and officials are expected for the six-day meet that ends Friday.

The opening ceremonies are set at 2 p.m. tomorrow with Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Education Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera as principal guests of Ebdane.

The meet will select the region’s representatives to the Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan this summer.

The P100-million sports complex now boasts of a rubberized track oval, a renovated Olympic-size swimming pool, rehabilitated gymnasium, grandstands and bleachers, as well as a new athletes’ dormitory, according to Ebdane.

Dr. Perlita Basa, schools division superintendent for Zambales, said 18 school divisions from Region 3 (Central Luzon) – Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales – are converging in Zambales for the meet.

The athletes will compete in athletics, swimming, basketball, boxing, among others, for six days until Friday (February 24).

The CLRAA meet will also feature an agro-industrial fair and consultation-meetings among Region 3 school and sports officials and trainers.