Luna, Apayao – Education secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones will grace the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet to be held here on Feb. 27 to Mar. 3, 2019.

Briones is set to arrive the day before the start of the five-day sports event where opening program will be held at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex (AESTC) in Payanan this town.

Briones will take a flight to Tuguegarao City where May B. Eclar, regional director, will meet her at the airport and will accompany her to Apayao either by helicopter.

Eclar will arrive the day before the arrival of the secretary.

The secretary will speak before a crowd of 10,000, an estimate

figure by the provincial government, to flock to the sports complex.  From the figure, above 6,000 are athletes, coaches and event managers from the eight schools divisions, and members of the technical committee.  Visitors from nearby Ilocos Norte and Cagayan are also expected to come over.

After the opening program, Briones will be brought to one of the performing schools in the province to witness school-based management implementation here, schools division superintendent Ronald B. Castillo said.  “The schools division office is desirous to bring the secretary to other schools but her [Briones] schedules do not permit so,” Castillo added.  A press conference with Briones is also scheduled where venue is to be announced, he said.

Revsee A. Escobedo, undersecretary for field operations and bureau of human resources and organizational development, has confirmed joining Briones.  In addition, Alain Del B. Pascua, undersecretary for administrative service, will also send some of his staff to come over.  Both Escobedo and Pascua visited Apayao last year for the Brigada Eskwela and School Building Coordination Meeting, respectively. (Bernie A. Gamiao)