All systems go for Eastern Visayas SCUUA Meet in Naval

By RODRIGO S. VICTORIA (PIA Biliran)
October 21, 2006

NAVAL, Biliran – It’s an all systems go when the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) athletic meet in region 8 will formally open this Sunday (October 22) at the Naval Institute of Technology (NIT), as the preparations in the hosting of the big regional event are in full blast, Dr. Edita S. Genson, NIT President said in an interview recently.

Dr. Genson said that all the people in NIT are working double time to fastrack all preparations that are needed, NIT being the host for this year’s 22nd SCUAA.

“I already pity the workers who sometimes will work until evening time just to finish some important structures needed and to prepare many other things required in the holding of the event” she said.

The NIT President bared that all the 11 athletic delegations composed of Leyte State University (LSU), Sogod Southern Leyte State University (SSLSU), Leyte Normal University (LNU), Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Samar State University (SSU), Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST), Samar State College of Agriculture and Fishery (SSCAF), University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), Palompon Institue of Technology (PIT) including the NIT delegation will be billeted only in one venue which is at NIT.

She said that the billeting of all delegations of some 2,000 athletes and officials in only one venue was the decision reached by majority of the presidents of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) in region 8 during a meeting.

“It is such a big task to accommodate this big number of people in NIT but we could not complain because that was agreed by the majority and besides the holding of such big regional sports event is a great honor and prestige for the school” Dr. Genson added.

Dr. Genson added that the regional sports event will also help boost the economy of Naval town and promote the tourism industry in the province of Biliran.

She said that the different venues for the holding of the different sports competitions that will begin on October 22 up to 26 like athletics, basketball (men & women), volleyball (men & women), volleyball (men & women), softball (men & women), baseball (men), soccer football (men), swimming, lawn tennis (men & women), table tennis (men & women), badminton (men & women), sepak takraw (men), chess (men & women), boxing, taekwondo (men & women) are already prepared and ready.

Dr. Genson added that the school has constructed 50 improvised toilets in an area inside the campus in order to answer the call of nature of the competing delegations and to maintain good sanitation in the area.

She said that she also coordinated with the Local Government Unit (LGU) in Naval through Mayor Gerry Espina and the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) headed by Engr. Celerina B. Barrot in the enforcement of fair trade laws like the putting of price tags in the commodity sold in the market in order not to mislead and likewise not to take advantage of the visitors.

Dr. Genson also coordinated with the management of the Naval Water District (NWD) thru Manager Mario Robenta in order to ensure sufficient supply of water and also requested LGU-Naval for gathering of garbage inside the school campus everyday to maintain cleanliness and sanitation within the school compound.

As to the finances in the hosting of the sports event, Dr. Genson admitted that NIT has already spent a million pesos taken from the school’s income on its Income Generating Projects (IGPs) because each member school of PASUC 8 contributed only P23,500.00 and P1,500.00 for the program. However, because of her initiative, the school was able to raise a considerable amount that forms part of the amount used in the preparation like the amount of P128,000.00 from the advertisements of the SCUAA program, proceeds of tickets from Mr. & Miss NIT 2006 and contributions from the employees and the amount of P10,000.00 given by Governor Rogelio J. Espina to be used during the welcome party.

Dr. Genson said that she wanted to make the preparation well and good as to the best of what she can do with the help of all the members of the NIT family and the people in the community in order to make the hosting of the regional sports event a successful one.