A view of the delegations on the north side of the football field

A view of the delegations at the south side of the football field

VP and Education Secretary Sara Duterte delivers her message

VCAA Annabelle Novero and VCA Leo Manuel Estana view the parade alongside fellow guests

For the second time in its history, UP Mindanao hosted the Opening Ceremonies of the Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA). This was for the DAVRAA 2024 Meet, held at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex in the UP Mindanao campus, Mintal, Davao City. The Department of Education Region XI and the Davao City local government unit co-organized DAVRAA 2024, which was conceived with the theme "One Team, One Dream: Shaping Filipino Sports Champions." 

The DAVRAA holds sports events for student-athletes from elementary and secondary public schools in the provinces of Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao del Norte and the cities of Davao, Samal, Panabo, Mati, Tagum, and Digos. The winners will comprise the Davao Region delegation to the Palarong Pambansa (National Games) 2024, which will be held in July in Cebu City.   

The DAVRAA Meet games will be played from April 1-7, 2024, in 24 schools and sports facilities in Davao City and one in Tagum City.

The delegations will compete in arnis, athletics, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, chess, football,  aero gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis, table tennis, boxing, taekwondo, archery, badminton, futsal, sepak takraw, pencat silat, billiards, goal ball, bocce, wushu, dancesport, swimming, and wrestling.  

UP Mindanao will host the football, volleyball, and archery events. 

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte led the guests in the opening ceremony, which included provincial governors, city mayors, and congressmen, including Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab.

In her message, VP Duterte asked the student-athletes to "make us proud," while she advised them to maintain good health throughout the meet, stay hydrated, and not hesitate to seek help when experiencing extreme heat due to the weather. She thanked the parents and organizers for supporting the young athletes.

The UP Mindanao community welcomed the visitors and the prospective students on its bulletins. Vice Chancellor For Academic Affairs Prof. Annabelle Novero and Vice Chancellor for Administration Assistant Professor Leo Estaña represented the university at the ceremony. Previously, UP Mindanao had hosted the DAVRAA 2019, as well as the 2019 Palarong Pambansa, in the DC-UP Sports Complex.