Over 10,000 student-athletes have gathered in Bacolod City for the inaugural Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) almost two years since President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. signed the law that re-established the Negros Island Region in 2024.

The athletes come from schools in the three provinces that are part of NIR – Negros Oriental, Negros Occidential, and Siquijor.

Negros Oriental and Siquijor used to be part of Central Visayas.

The athletic meet opened formally on March 1, 2026 at the Pana-ad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City. Twelve delegations are taking part – seven from Negros Oriental (Tanjay City, Guihulngan City, Dumaguete City, Canlaon City, Bayawan City, and Bais City); four from Negros Occidental (Bacolod City, Kabankalan, and Silay City); and one from Siquijor.

Organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) – NIR, the meet will run until March 6. Winners of the different sporting events will represent NIR at the Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur later in the year.

The governors of the three provinces – Manuel Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental, Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental, and Jake Vincent Villa of Siquijor – were present during the opening event. Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya also attended.

STUDENTS FAINTED

Meanwhile, at least 20 students – athletes and dancers – fainted during the opening ceremony at the sports complex.

Dr. Hobart Bautista of the first aid committee of the Technical Working Group, said the students may have fainted due to overfatigue. They had to end the opening ceremony at 9 a.m.

“Maaga pa kaming nag-start, alas-sais. Nag-end kami by 9 a.m. kasi hindi naming maaaring ilagay sa alanganin ang mga bata. Kahapon, ang cause nun, kasi nandito na kahapon ang mga estudyante, overfatigue,” he said.

Several athletes said it is better if games are played in times of day when the sun is not harsh.

“Mahirap kung mainit kasi ang katawan mo, madaling mapagod,” said Gemark Flores, a long jump athlete.

Another student-athlete, volleyball player Brianna Nikola Ang, shared they have prepared their bodies by training in both hot and cold environments so they could adjust easily to the environment they will be playing in.

“We have been training in very hot places or very cold places to adjust in various temperatures,” she said.

Emergency personnel are ready to respond to possible emergencies during the games.

Bryll Larry Sañor, deputy chief of the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, advised athletes and spectators to limit their stay under the heat of the sun.

“Magbaon palagi ng tubig at huwag magbabad sa araw. Kung kinakailangang magbabad, mas mabuting meron tayong paying,” he said.

(With reports from GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak and GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas)