DAGUPAN CITY -- The City Government is rushing the construction, refurbishment and major repairs of all sports and billeting facilities in preparation for the 2009 Ilocos Region Athletic Associaion (IRAA) Meet.

Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. said preparations for the meet started last year.

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The IRAA 2009, the biggest sports event in Ilocos region, will be held on February 22 to 27. The five-day event is a school-based program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

"We are proud to host the games here in Dagupan. We have been working hard to make things ready for the event and look forward to welcoming all participating delegations to our city," said Fernandez.

About 6,000 athletes, officials and other members of athletic delegations will arrive. They will come from schools divisions of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan I, Pangasinan II, San Carlos City, Urdaneta City, Alaminos City, San Fernando City, Batac City, Vigan City, Candon City, and Dagupan City.

The IRAA meet and other sports and athletic competitions are integral parts of the total education program of the DepEd, said City Schools Superintendent Aurora Domingo.

This is apart from forging camaraderie and lasting friendships among the athletes and between and among coaches and other members of the athletic delegation.

"We'd like to develop not just the mind but the body and spirit," Domingo stated.

The sporting events under the IRAA are athletics, swimming, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, sipa/sepak takraw, softball, table tennis, lawn tennis, volleyball, baseball, boxing, arnis and archery. (LCMY/Sunnex)