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TAGUM CITY — Police in Davao del Norte are on a heightened alert as this city hosts the Davao regional athletic meet, the first school-based sporting event since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 1,000 police, soldiers and other security personnel were deployed to provide security to participants and guests of the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) that kicked off on Monday, said Colonel Antonio Alberio Jr., Davao del Norte police chief.
More than 8,000 athletes, coaches, and other sports officials from ten school divisions in five cities and five provinces across the Davao region are expected to join the sporting event that will end on April 28.
This year’s Davraa is first since April 2020, when former Education Secretary Leonor Briones suspended the holding of regional sports meets because of the pandemic.
At least 447 personnel composed of 204 police personnel, 85 Army troops, 97 members of the Tagum civil security unit, 42 traffic enforcers, four Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel, seven K9 units, and personnel from three tactical advance command posts are providing direct security to the sporting event.
A contingent of more than 500 personnel is also put on standby to quickly respond to any eventuality.
“The public should expect a lot of checkpoints around Tagum City, police visibility, and establishment of police assistance desks in every sports event venue,” Alberio said.
The regional school sporting event is held at the sprawling Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Barangay Mankilam.
Participants and guests from the cities of Davao, Digos, Panabo, Samal, Tagum and the provinces of Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao de Oro are billeted in 13 schools in Tagum for the duration of the sports meet.