‘All systems go’ for Palaro 2024

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government and the Department of Education are ready for the hosting of this year’s edition of the Palarong Pambansa, with Vice President Sara Duterte herself confirming her attendance during the opening ceremony and related activities.

The Palarong Pambansa 2024 will take on July 6 to 16, 2024, with the opening ceremony scheduled on July 9 and with the games scattered in 24 venues in the city.

Duterte, who was in Cebu yesterday to lead the awarding of more than 900 individuals, institutions, and partners during the Office of the Vice President’s Pasidungog 2024, confirmed that she would still join the Palaro.

Her resignation as education secretary will take effect on July 19 yet.

During the same event, DepEd-7 Director Salustiano Jimenez said it is “all systems go” for the upcoming event, which is expected to draw at least 15,000 delegates and athletes from all over the country.

“Yes, it’s all systems go,” says Jimenez in an interview, echoing what Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said during a press conference the other day.

This is the third time Cebu City hosted the Palaro, having done so in 1954 and in 1994.

Also, with the Palaro drawing closer each day, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is also heightening its surveillance activities to really ensure the safety of everyone, especially that of the visiting Palaro delegations.

SECURITY PREPARATIONS

With an expected attendance of 15,000 to 20,000 Palaro participants, CCPO is especially focusing on preventing potential crime threats like theft, robbery, and burglary.

“We have to give them unprecedented experience nga dili gud sila ma biktima niiining mga dautan ug sa kriminalidad diri sa atong syudad,” said CCPO Deputy Director for Operations Janette Rafter.

She said they are continuously enhancing police visibility, knowing that presence of policemen has a significant impact on crime prevention.

“Kana man gyung presensiya sa police dako na kaayo na og epekto. It will really prevent (crime), the mere presence lang sa atong kapulisan. Motindog lang gani na atong kapulisan diri, ang mga kriminal ana naa gyuy apprehension ba,” she said.

Rafter said their preparations are ongoing to safeguard delegates and visitors, including updates on events and guests, and have a calendar of activities ready.

But while CCPO is intensifying efforts to address the potential threats posed to the Palaro, Rafter said they also seek public cooperation to the people to prevent criminal acts in the city.

“We are asking the cooperation ug tabang sa atong publiko nga kung naa man gani moy namatikdan diha sa inyong mga silingan or asa man ganing dapita, especially mga group ba, to please help us, coordinate with us para mapakgang nato na,” she said.

Security for the Palaro involves personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, among other agencies.

Meanwhile, speaking on her resignation, Duterte said everything is ready for the transition but she has not recommended anyone to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as her replacement.

The position, she said, entails having someone with the president’s trust and confidence.

And no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. confirmed yesterday that finding someone to take Duterte’s place is harder than he thought.

“It turns out it's harder than I thought so, because we have to absolutely get it right. So I'm giving myself more time,” he said as a reply to members of the press asking if he already has a person in mind to take over as education secretary.

He made the statement after the signing of agreement of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and the National Unity Party alliance at the Manila Golf and Country Club yesterday.

The president said there are a lot of things to consider when picking the next education secretary.

“We have to see really what the DepEd needs…. Of course, there are many calls for the new secretary to be an educator; there are many calls for the new secretary to be an administrator; there are new calls…to be a history professor. All of these, and they're all valid, valid concerns. That's what education is all about,” he said.

“I've gone through so many CVs (of potential new education secretary), marami tayong magagaling. It's the one we have to choose…somebody who has an understanding on what is important in terms of being an educator. But then we also have to find, the same person also has to have those qualities that they can galvanize this very, very large bureaucracy, which is the DepEd, to achieve all of those gains for all of those changes or to make the educational standard better,” he added.

“Ang lagi naman nating tinitingnan ay ang mga test scores natin…. We have to bring up the test scores, you all know that. So, you need an educator who understands how to help the students, how to help the teachers,” he further said.

President Marcos said there are many experts who understands this, who are in the education sector, but DepEd also needs someone to manage it properly while also understanding the bureaucracy and how to use the budget properly.

“All of these things, you know, mahirap ang trabaho ng DepEd (secretary), kaya that's why we have to thank Inday Sara for, really, the effort that she put in,” he said.

President Marcos said more work has to be done until they find the right person to do it that is why still does not have a shortlist, as he is looking at everyone he knows or were recommended to him.

“We're looking at everyone and we're looking at that right there. We don't make a short list…I know people myself na sa tingin ko kaya nila ang trabaho. And many people come to me and say, ‘Why don't you think about this fellow? Why do you think about this, the maestra? Why don't you? So, we look at them’,” he said.

“Sa madaling sabi, oo, nahirapan akong pumili dahil napaka-kumplikado ng trabaho ng DepEd (secretary) eh,” he also said.