Bacolod wants to host Palaro

Like Puerto Princesa, Bacolod City has also expressed interest in taking over from Tubod, Lanao del Norte as this year’s host of the Palarong Pambansa just in case the peace and order situation in Mindanao worsens.

Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella made the announcement yesterday even as he is set to talk to Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah "Bobby" Dimaporo on the staging of the multi-sports meet for high school and elementary students.

"We’d be glad to (host the Palaro) but I want to talk to Rep. Dimaporo first on Monday," Puentevella, who was recently elected president of the Asian Weightlifting Federation, told The STAR.

"If he (Dimaporo) tells me it’s okay, then we’ll go for it," added the former Philippine sports commissioner.

Bacolod City’s bid came a day after Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn declared his province’s readiness to host the Palaro.

The bid by the Dimaporos – Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda and Rep. Bobby – to bring the games to Tubod after three failed bids, suffered another blow recently when fighting reached Brgy. Buluan, Tubod.

Unlike the sprawling Mindanao Sports Complex, which was the venue of the first Mindanao Friendship Games two years ago, Bacolod’s Panaad Sports Complex had hosted a number of Palaro games and some national events like the Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy. — Joey Villar