'Pablo'cancels CVIRAA, BP games: Delegations from Bogo, Carcar and Danao evacuated to a more secured area

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The inclement weather caused by super typhoon ‘Pablo’ has forced the cancellation of all games scheduled today in the 2012 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet here as well as in the National Finals of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Batang Pinoy Games over at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City.

“As of 4 am today (yesterday), I, together with the supervisors, decided to officially cancel all the games in the CVIRAA because of typhoon Pablo,” said Department of Education (DepEd)-7 director Carmelita Dulangon. “We are doing this for the safety of the athletes, coaches and officials of the CVIRAA.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) has placed Negros Oriental among the areas under storm Signal No.2.

With this, Dulangon has ordered all officials to prepare for evacuation. Contingents from the cities of Bogo, Carcar and Danao were transferred to a more secured place as their billeting areas are located near the river.

Dulangon has also requested all 800 athletes and 1,000 officials to secure things and wrap their clothes with plastic bags so that it will not get wet. She added that the local government units in Negros Oriental were also preparing for whatever happens as they were told that they will be hit by the powerful storm at 6:00 last night.

“Gi-pull out namo ang mga bata nga naa duol sa rivers ang billeting area kay para dili pod mabalaka ang mga ginikanan sa atong mga bata. And I stopped the games because I don’t want nga masakripisyo ang mga bata and the tendency that they will panic. Maayo ra ang among pagtransfer and its orderly,” said Dulangon.

Since there was no electricity as of 12 noon yesterday, Dulangon said they had prepared generator, candles and other sources that can produce light, even as she also egged on everyone to pray for their safety.

Dulangon said she will sit again with the CVIRAA working committee to decide whether to extend the number days of the competition or make some adjustments on the format as the schedules were greatly affected by the postponement of all events.

Over in Iloilo, the organizers made the decision after heavy rains hit Western Visayas caused by “Pablo,” considered the strongest cyclone to hit Mindanao and the Visayas.

Already, PAGASA, the government's weather bureau, has raised Signal No. 2 here and could be raised to Signal No. 3 upon the expected arrival of the cylcone anytime today.

“Batang Pinoy was designed for the kids so in all the decisions that we make, we have to think of the safety and welfare of the kids,” said PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez, the overall commissioner in charge of the event.

With the postponement, the PSC will be forced to hold all its games in a span of three days set on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Centerpiece athletics, medal-rich swimming, badminton, basketball, chess, lawn tennis, table tennis and taekwond will thus be moved to compete on a latter date. — with reports from Philippine STAR News Service (FREEMAN)