• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod City government has earmarked P57.5 million in the hosting of the first Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) on March 1-7 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, and the participation of the Schools Division of Bacolod delegation.
In the memorandum of agreement ratified by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Feb. 11, the city will provide P27 million to the Department of Education Division of Bacolod as financial assistance for the hosting of the 2026 NIRAAM, and P30,595,700 for the participation of the delegation from the highly-urbanized city.
An interagency coordination meeting was held Feb. 12 at the Rizal Elementary School in Bacolod to finalize logistics, security, traffic management, billeting, health protocols, and venue readiness for the week-long regional sporting event, the city said.
There will be 12 competing provincial and city delegations in the NIRAAM, including host Bacolod, Silay, Kabankalan, Dumaguete, Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Guihulngan, Tanjay, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, per the DepEd-NIR Regional Memorandum 035-2026.
Twenty-eight events will be to be played in the elementary level, 45 in the secondary level to include pickle ball and cheerleading as demo sports, and four paragames events, the memo dated Jan. 14 added. “Weightlifting, futsal elementary girls and football secondary girls as regular sports events shall also be showcased.”
The first NIRAAM, on the theme “Negros Island Region: Stronger. Faster. Together.”, aims to identify and develop outstanding student-athletes, who will represent the region to the Palarong Pambansa; promote physical fitness, discipline, and sportsmanship among athletes; and strengthen unity and camaraderie among schools and divisions while supporting holistic learner development, the DepEd said. | CGC
