Ilocos Norte 'more than 100% ready' to host R1AA 2024

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, through the Ilocos Norte Sports Development Office, confirmed that the province is fully equipped to accommodate the 14 participating schools divisions in the Region 1 Athletic Association Meet, which is set to happen from April 21 to 27, 2024. 

Ilocos Norte Sports Development Officer, Ms. Helen Domingo, asserted that the province's sports facilities and playing fields have already met the qualifications provided by technical officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) to host the annual regional sporting event— surpassing the national standards and is at par with international quality. 

"For some of the sports, DepEd follows the international rules, and our Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Memorial Stadium track oval and other venues for batted games also meet the standard for elite playing fields," Ms. Domingo said.

She then acknowledged the efforts of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc in terms of his contribution during the said preparation— allowing them to accomplish the needed tasks ahead of time. 

"Gov [Marcos Manotoc] is hands-on with the preparation and frequently asks about our timeline. He oversees every step of the process and also makes suggestions on solutions that we need to execute whenever a problem arises. That is why we were two weeks earlier before the given deadline."

Ilocos Norte last hosted the regional sports competition in 2019. When asked about how different this particular hosting is from the previous one, Ms. Domingo said that the preparations are beyond the usual as the province is also expecting to host the biggest sporting event in the country in the coming year— the 2025 Palarong Pambansa. 

Moreover, the province is also eyeing to be the first in North Luzon to be certified by the World Athletics Federation for Ilocos Norte's track oval within the world-renowned FEM Stadium. 

Meanwhile, the Sports Office guaranteed a 24/7 security service to ensure the protection of the expected 14,000 participants, coaches, and officials who will be attending the week-long event with the help of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and other Ilokano volunteers. 

Following the DepEd's guidelines, Ilocos Norte will again accommodate the 14 competing divisions in 2029.