MANILA, Philippines - At least 10,000 athletes are expected to gather in Pangasinan for the annual Palarong Pambansa in May.
Undersecretary Francisco Varela of the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) said the budget allotment for this year’s Palarong Pambansa amount to P205,375 million, of which P136.6 million will be spent for the repair of facilities of the playing venues.
Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino has started sprucing up sports venues to ensure the successful hosting of the Palarong Pambansa scheduled May 6-12.
Inspired by the elaborate preparations being made by Pangasinan provincial government, some 70 officials from the Dep-Ed Central Office, including 17 regional directors, took part in the recent three-day Special National Management Committee meeting in Pangasinan.
“We want to assure the DepEd officials and all athletes and delegates participating in the Palarong Pambansa that our province and our people are just about eager, ready and excited to host the national games for the second time this May,” said Espino.
Pangasinan first hosted the annual sporting event in 1995 during the administration of then President Fidel V. Ramos, a native son of the province.
Espino, then the police provincial director of Pangasinan was designated as Palaro’s Task Force Commander.
It was Espino who worked for the completion of the various sporting venues and facilities notably the main venue, the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center completed in record time during the Ramos administration in time for the national games.
“Having preserved and maintained the facilities since 1995, we are confident that all additional constructions and repairs will be completed as scheduled. After this Palarong Pambansa, these facilities will still be used as a venue for training young athletes. This event is an advantage not only to develop Pangasinense athletes but also to promote Pangasinan as a sporting capital of the Philippines,” said Espino.
Among the major agenda discussed by Dep-Ed and Palaro officials were the Palaro budget and the billeting quarters per region in Lingayen as well as the towns of Bugallon, Labrador and Binmaley and the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos as alternative billeting quarters and playing venues.