Baguio City, Philippines – Benguet is set to welcome over 7,000 delegates as the Cordillera region gears up for one of its biggest sporting events this year, the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet.
Branded as the 2026 CARAA Meet, the event carries the theme “Sustaining a United and Healthier Cordillera through Sports” and will serve as a qualifying phase for Palarong Pambansa 2026.
Having successfully hosted the event last year, Benguet is again ready to showcase its hospitality and sports infrastructure. The weeklong regional rivalry opens on Sunday, February 22, and concludes with the awarding ceremonies on February 27.
Organizers expect 4,321 student-athletes, backed by 876 coaches, 191 chaperones, 1,170 officials and technical work group members, and 570 technical officials to participate.
Benguet has the highest number of athletes with 636, aiming to displace defending champion Baguio City, which has 627. Other delegations include Apayao (577), Abra (570), Ifugao (534), Mt. Province (501), Kalinga (481), and Tabuk City (395).
The Benguet State University (BSU) Sports Complex will serve as the main hub, hosting events such as lawn tennis (secondary), paragames (secondary), softball, athletics, and boxing. Volleyball (secondary) will also be held in the BSC gymnasium, while swimming competitions take place at the complex’s aquatic center.
Basketball 3x3 (secondary and elementary) will be played at the BSU closed gym, while 5x5 matches are set at the Cordillera Career Development College court. Football (elementary and secondary) and baseball will be at BSU Oval, with futsal held at the university’s covered gym.
Benguet Provincial Capitol – volleyball (elementary)
Provincial Engineering Office – chess and lawn tennis (elementary)
Ben Palispis Hall – table tennis
DepEd – Cordillera covered court – taekwondo; frontage – weightlifting
Baguio National High School – gymnastics
Additional events across the province: Lubas ES (wrestling), Tawang Integrated School (pencak silat), Benguet NHS (sepak takraw secondary boys), San Jose Gym (arnis), Norson Gym Shilan (badminton), Paoad ES (wushu), Tacdian ES (sepak takraw elementary boys & secondary girls), Rosephine Hotel (dancesport), Alejo M. Picalso Memorial NHS (archery), and Wayside Billiard Hall Puguis (billiards).
With the CARAA Meet 2026 just days away, the Benguet Provincial Police Office and DepEd – Cordillera confirmed that security measures are in place. 270 personnel will be deployed for the opening parade and program, 231 personnel for playing venues, billeting areas, route security, advance command post, and quick reaction teams, and 135 personnel for the awarding and closing ceremonies.
As a precaution, the Emergency Operations Center of the Office of Civil Defense Regional Office will be on red alert status throughout the week-long event.
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