By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday he was not happy with the performance of the province in the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet held in Aklan province.

“If you ask me if I am happy, I’m not. We got beaten,” Lacson said.

Negros Occidental was first runner-up, with Iloilo as the overall champion in the regional sports meet.

Lacson said the province lost in both categories.

He added that the recent performances should be a challenge to all athletes to do better next year.

“We have to catch up with Iloilo,” Lacson said.

However, Negros Occidental excelled at volleyball and swimming.

For other sports such as chess, the province performed poorly, ending up with a bronze medal in the elementary category.

Since Lacson sponsored several chess tournaments in the province, he was surprised with the outcome.

“Are we not reaching out to the younger set?” Lacson asked.

He further added he wants the province’s sports programs to be developmental, targeting young athletes.

Lacson plans to review the sports program in the province, particularly those which don’t have private sponsorships.

However, despite the performance, Lacson still thanked the schools, parents, coaches, and sponsors for doing all they can for the province’s athletes.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Negros Occidental was the champion in the elementary category and the first runner-up in the secondary category in the WVRAA Meet 2019./DGB, WDJ