By VILLAMOR VISAYA JR., Philippine Daily Inquirer News Correspondent/GMA7 News Stringer
TUGUEGARAO CITY-All systems go.
This has been the pledges of the officials of host University of Cagayan Valley (UCV), the City Government of Tuguegarao, and the Provincial Government of Cagayan as they welcome about 20,000 attendees—mostly athletes, coaches, officiating officials, and chaperons—for the national Private National Private School Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games 2025 in this city.
“Everything is ready from the program, venue, accommodation for delegates, security, emergency responders, trade fair, to tourism activities that can be offered to visitors, “ according to Dr. Esther Susan Perez-Mari, UCV president, said in a late afternoon news briefing at the UCV building on April 2 here.
Perez-Mari, also the National PRISAA president, said the national sports event would never be “easy and smooth-sailing” as they host almost 8,000 athletes to compete in different sporting events from 400 private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 17 regions across the country but she promised to bring the best experience for the guests.
“We have been preparing this for a year now as this is our first hosting. We believe we can do our best,” she said, adding that hotels have been fully booked for the event.
“The hosting of the National PRISAA is very special, because it is not only a fulfillment of our dream but also a fulfillment of the long-held desire of my late father, former PRISAA president and former board member Victor Perez, to bring the National PRISAA to the city,” she added.
The province has tried to bid three times to host the national event but was later postponed due to the consecutive typhoons experienced in the province aside from the COVID-19 pandemic.#
