Bacolod City – The Province of Negros Occidental has once again bid for the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2024. In line with the province’s intention to host, a joint technical inspection is scheduled on June 25-28.
The Joint Technical Inspection team is composed of the officials and representative from the Department of Education (Central Office) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). They were slated to arrive in the province on June 25, to check and visit the billeting quarters and playing venues. Working along with the Joint Technical Inspection team are the Provincial Information Office, the Provincial Sports Development Program Management Section, the Provincial Engineering Office, the Negros Occidental Tourism Division, and DepEd (Negros Occidental Division).
Considered as the largest sporting event in the Philippines, an estimated 10,000 of the best elementary and secondary athletes and officials from the 17 regions of the country are expected to participate. Hence, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson aims to provide the best Billeting Quarters and Playing Venues for all the athletes, coaches, chaperons, and officials.
Negros Occidental is also one of the two Visayan provinces and one city, including the Province of Antique and the City of Cebu that signified intentions to bid for the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2024. Negros Occidental is the province that has hosted the greatest number of Palarong Pambansa events, serving as the venue in 1971, 1974, 1979, 1998, and 2000.
In 2021, the province that is known as the “Land of Sweet Surprises” and the “Sugar Bowl of the Philippines” was supposed to host the country’s biggest multi-sport competition for the sixth time. However, due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, Palarong Pambansa events were suspended for more than two years.
Meanwhile, the technical working committee in-charge of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 Hosting Bid in Negros Occidental is overall chaired by Lacson, in cooperation with the DepEd Negros Occidental Division led by Anthony Liobet and the Provincial Sports Development Program Management Section headed by Anthony Carlo Agustin.
Also assisting in showcasing the province’s Palaro 2024 hosting capability are the Provincial Engineering Office spearheaded by Engr. Ernie Mapa and Pana-ad Park and Stadium Administrator Engr. Jose Maria Amugod.
The welcoming committee for the guests, on the other hand, will be led by the Provincial Information Office Division under the leadership of Charina Magallanes-Tan, and the Negros Occidental Tourism Division supervised by Cheryl Decena.
Following the joint ocular inspection this week, Negros Occidental will continue the preparation for the presentation of bids, tentatively scheduled on July 14, while the Awarding of the Hosting Rights is tentatively set on July 21.
This year, Marikina City will be hosting the 63rd edition of the Palarong Pambansa, which is scheduled from July 29 to August 5. The city was also chosen as the host of the nation’s largest scholastic multi-sport competition in 2020. (News & photo courtesy of NOPIO via The Visayan Daily Star)