Davao City Anchors Davraa’s Palaro Bid as 2025 Games Open

DAVAO City athletes are once again ready to take on the challenge as they power the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Eagles in the 65th Palarong Pambansa, which officially opens Saturday afternoon, May 24, at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City.

Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Division Superintendent Reynante Solitario confirmed in an interview with SunStar Davao on Friday, May 23, that the city’s athletes are all set:

“Yes, our athletes are ready. Almost 50 percent of the regional delegation is from Davao City,” he said.

Out of the 780-strong Davraa delegation — including athletes, coaches, and chaperones — 348 hail from Davao City. Other Davao Region ontingents include Davao del Norte with 145 delegates, Davao de Oro with 107, and Tagum City with 47. Panabo City contributes 27 delegates, followed by Mati City (25), Island Garden City of Samal (22), Davao del Sur (17), Davao Oriental (17), Davao Occidental (15), and Digos City with seven.

Solitario expressed high hopes for the city’s dancesports team to repeat its strong performance from the 2024 Palaro in Cebu.

“We’re also optimistic about pencak silat, arnis, and hopefully swimming. For team events, our basketball and volleyball squads are promising,” he added.

In the 2024 edition of the games in Cebu, Dabawenyos Bhenz Rudolf Owen H. Semilla and Francheska Dezzly Darvin of Francisco Bustamante National High School (FBNHS) brought home five gold medals, helping Davraa clinch fourth overall with a haul of 32 golds, 25 silvers, and 35 bronzes.

As in recent years, not all athletes from Davao will join the opening parade, as some will begin their preliminary matches on Sunday, May 25, across various venues in Ilocos Norte.

DepEd Davao Regional Director Allan Farnazo, together with all division superintendents in the region and several local government officials, are expected to be present during the opening rites.

All set for opening 

In a live press briefing on Friday, DepEd Undersecretary and Palarong Pambansa Secretary-General Malcolm Garma reported that preparations for the opening ceremonies are 98 percent complete.

“The PMS (Presidential Management Staff) and PSG (Presidential Security Guard) were already here yesterday (Thursday) to prepare for the President’s arrival,” Garma said, confirming that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be the keynote speaker.

This year’s Palaro, themed “Nagkakaisang Kapuluan,” brings together 15,675 delegates from 17 regions, including the National Academy of Sports (NAS), Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO), and the National Technical Working Group. The event promises a vibrant celebration of athletic skill, cultural pride, and national unity.

Top concerns  

Despite the excitement, Garma pointed out two key concerns: water shortage and high heat.

“Water is the number one issue,” he said. “While accommodations are satisfactory, schools used as billeting quarters weren’t designed to host this many people.” He urged all delegates to conserve water amid the increased demand.

Laoag sports development officer Helen Rose Domingo assured that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will deliver potable water to areas experiencing shortages.

Meanwhile, high temperatures have prompted organizers to adjust the game schedules.

“We’re facing daily heat indexes of 45 to 46 degrees Celsius,” Garma noted. “Outdoor events will only be held until 10 a.m., then resume at 3 p.m. to keep athletes safe.”

Some venues — both outdoor and indoor — are being monitored for excessive heat and insufficient ventilation. Garma said venue readiness is currently at 90 percent, with improvements ongoing.

In the event of power outages, Domingo said the local power company has assured a swift response, while nearby LGUs have lent generators to support Laoag’s hosting efforts. MLSA