Around 10,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from 400 private schools have gathered in Legazpi City for the annual Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) games.

The event commenced with a solemn Mass and parade, followed by an opening program held at the Bicol University Sports Complex. 

This year’s games feature 27 sporting events taking place across various venues.

Edgar Balasta, the PRISAA National President, reported that despite a temporary shortage of equipment for weightlifting, the necessary gear has been sourced from Zamboanga and brought to Bicol.

Balasta said PRISAA is an important event, recalling that the Philippines won a gold medal in the Olympics through Hidilyn Diaz, who competed in PRISAA as an athlete.

In addition to the athletic competitions, stringent security measures have been put in place by local police at the event venues and billet centers to ensure safety.

"Kami sa preparations, di na namin pinakialaman sa committee yung mga schools that are focusing on sports. So kami na talaga, humiwalay na kami, [at] nagfocus na kami sa hosting; and the rest of our people focus also on the preparations of our athletes," Balasta said.