DBM chips in P54M to fund Naga Games

NAGA CITY — With sufficient funds, organizers of this year’s Palarong Pambansa look forward to a smooth and successful staging of the Games at the Pacol Sports Center here.

Department of Education acting Secretary Fe Hidalgo yesterday said they received P54 million from the Department of Budget and Management, more than twice than what Iloilo City got when it hosted the Games last year.

"We received P54 million to fund this event and we’ll make do with it," said Hidalgo in yesterday’s press conference.

Hidalgo said the fund had been apportioned to 17 participating regions with some going to the host city headed Mayor Jesse Robredo.

It marks the second straight year that the Palaro will be directly run by the DepEd after the Philippine Sports Commission officially delegated it to the latter under a Malacañang directive.

Naga City used the P3 million it received from DepEd for infrastructure and renovations of the city’s sports facilities.

"We’re ready and raring to go," said Feliciano Toledo II, national coordinator of the DepEd task Force on school sports. — Joey Villar