Western Visayas is aiming to surpass its third rank in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, this time aiming for the second spot, if not the championship crown, during the national sports event in Agusan del Sur this month.

Hernani Escullar Jr., information officer for the Department of Education in Western Visayas, said the region will send 630 athletes to compete in various sports disciplines and 20 participants for demonstration sports in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.

“We are very confident with our athletes. That’s why we give them our all-out support. Last year we were number three, and our target is to surpass this rank. We are aiming for rank 1 or 2,” he said.

During the 2025 Palaro, Western Visayas garnered 44 golds, 54 silver and 58 bronze medals.

For the 2026 edition, the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association will have a 1,023 ‘Stronger Champs’ delegation, he added.

In addition to athletes, other delegates consist of coaches and assistant coaches, chaperones, non-officiating officials and technical working group and members of the management committee.

They are set to leave Iloilo on May 15 by boat via Cebu, and arrive in Agusan by May 17 or 18.

This will give them time to adjust and prepare for the opening ceremony on May 24, Escullar said.

As part of the preparations, DepEd Regional Director for Western Visayas Cristito Eco and the members of the management committee went to Agusan del Sur on the last week of March and early April to check on the billeting school, distance to the playing venues, transporting athletes from Iloilo to Agusan and back, and the viability of resources, Escullar said.

The DepEd will provide the athletes with uniforms, transportation and food.

“Our security committee assured that they will be safe. We will implement security protocols. We want to protect our participating learners,” he added.

Escullar said that upon the departure of the athletes, they will also activate their learner rights protection office to prevent incidents, such as bullying and the like, in accordance with the Learner Rights Protection Policy.PNA