The Schools Division Office of Cebu City has clinched the championship, dethroning erstwhile leaders Dumaguete City and Bohol Province, in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CViRAA) that ended yesterday in Bayawan City.
The overall medal tally as of Saturday morning showed Cebu City with 84 golds, 59 silvers, and 51 bronze medals; Bohol Province with 42 golds, 35 silvers, and 52 bronzes while Dumaguete City with 26 golds, 34 silvers, and 23 bronze medals.
Negros Oriental moved up to 6th place with 19 golds, 22 silvers, and 19 bronze medals in this competition of 19 delegations representing school divisions in Region VII.
This is a qualifying event for the Palarong Pambansa that will be held from May 24 to June 2 in Laoag City.
The athletic delegations from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Bayawan, Guihulngan, Tanjay, Canlaon, Bais and Siquijor will bow out of the CViRAA this year as they become part of the Negros Island Region Athletic Association (NIRAA) beginning next year.
Cebu Provincial Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Negros Oriental Gov. Chaco Sagarbarria joined the opening ceremonies on March 11, while governors from Bohol and Siquijor sent representatives as an expression of support for this annual sports competition that brought together student-athletes from the four provinces in Central Visayas.
Beginning next year, there will only be two provinces to comprise the Central Visayas Region as Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Negros Occidental will begin to put the Negros Island Region in operation. (AP)
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Photo Caption: A Sinulog dancer from the Cebu delegation performs during the opening ceremonies of the Central Visayas Region Athletic Association Meet in Bayawan City. This is the last time that Negros Oriental schools are competing in the CVIRAA after the Province was made part of the Negros Island Region. (PIO photo)
