• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday (March 11) that he will offer the hosting of the Negros Island Regional Athletic Association (NIRAA) Meet to Negros Oriental and Siqujior in the next two years.
The provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor are now under the Negros Island Region after Republic Act 12000 or the NIR Act was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June last year.
“I am willing to give that to Dumaguete City (Negros Oriental) or Siquijor because I like our athletes to travel and let them enjoy and see other places,” Lacson said. “What is important is our performance”.
Lacson expressed confidence that athletes from Negros Occidental will dominate the NIRAA Meet.
Negros Occidental ranked second in the just- concluded 2025 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet in Antique, with Iloilo winning the championship anew.
Lacson said he observed that Iloilo put a lot of effort, especially in the paragames, aside from winning the secondary level competitions.
Still, the governor said he is happy with the performance of the Negros Occidental athletes, noting an improvement in their performance from last year.
“Although we did not win the overall championship, we regained the elementary championship. That itself is a big improvement,” he added. | GB
