DepEd chief releases P200M for Palaro

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte , Philippines  – Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro has announced the release of P200 million as the DepEd’s share in the staging of the 2011 Palarong Pambansa slated May 8-14 here.

Luistro flew in to see the progress of the on-going construction of various Palaro infrastructure projects at the 10-hectare sports complex of the Dapitan City-based Jose Rizal Memorial State University which will serve as the main venue of the week-long meet for elementary and high school students.

Luistro was met by DepEd Region 9 director Walter Albos, Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rolando Yebes, and former Rep. Romeo Jalosjos Sr., chairman of the Palaro executive committee.

The DepEd chief said the P200 million may be utilized to put up other necessary Palaro structures even as he expressed elation over the progress on the construction of major Palaro facilities.

More than 50 percent of the project have been completed, Jalosjos told Luistro, including the track oval which will be topped by imported rubber surface, the main grandstand, Olympic-size swimming pool, athletes’ bleachers and eight courts for basketball, lawn tennis, volleyball and sepak takraw.              

Jalosjos, who owns the Dakak Park and Beach Resort, informed Luistro that the Metro Manila-based project contractors have assured him of the completion of the project at least two weeks before the Palaro, which will be participated in by over 10,000 athletes, coaches and meet officials.

The various billeting quarters of 17 participating athletic delegations are already in place, according to Jalosjos.