The province of Ilocos Norte led by Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc has fully prepared sports facilities, particularly the Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Memorial Stadium, for the 2024 Region 1 Athletic Association (R1AA) Meet which will be held from April 21 to 27 in the province.
The FEM Stadium is part of the provincial government’s “Big 3” infrastructure development projects and it now serves as a platform for sporting events such as the R1AA.
It has an area of over 16,000 square meters and a 12,000-seating capacity, equipped with an outdoor amphitheater, a fully rubberized track, a natural grass soccer field, community spaces, concession areas, VIP areas, and media boxes.
Moreover, it won the “Highly Commended Prize” and was shortlisted in the Sports Category at the World Architecture Festival 2023, and was chosen as “Special Mention Nominee” of the Architizer A+ Awards 2023, the world’s largest and most democratic architectural awards program.
According to Ms. Helen Domingo, Ilocos Norte Sports Development Officer, the billeting centers and playing fields are now prepared to host delegates.
“As far as our preparation for the venue readiness when it comes to billeting and playing fields, everything is settled. We already met the needs ahead of time for the R1AA, sa ngayon, yung mga minor needs nalang ng mga billeting center ang tinitignan namin kung meron pang mga kulang. We are very ready when it comes to accommodating facilities.”
The Department of Education confirmed that there are 19 billeting schools to be used, namely Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades, Ilocos Norte National High School, Sarrat National High School, Bacarra National Comprehensive High School, and City of Batac National High School, among others.
DepEd Schools Division of Ilocos Norte Superintendent Atty. Donato Balderas Jr., also continues to collaborate with the Acting Provincial Director of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO), PCOL Frederick Obar, to ensure a safer and smoother conduct of the biggest sporting event in Region I.
Ms. Domingo also said, “We have already coordinated with the INPPO, and we also have the Bureau of Fire Protection supporting us. So far as security is concerned, okay tayo, we’re ready for that.”
“DepEd and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) are helping each other to make the visitors feel comfortable in their billeting centers,” Ms. Domingo ended.
PGIN and DepEd are committed to making the hosting successful and providing the best playing experience that Ilocos Norte can offer to all R1AA delegates. (Laura Ashley V. Tapia, PGIN-CMO Intern)
