P1M allotted for NegOr Palarong Pambansa preparations

By Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, Oct 2 (PIA) -- The local school board has allotted P1 million to fund the improvement of sports facilities in the province in line with the province’s campaign to host the Palarong Pambansa in April next year. 

The funds, taken from the local Special Education Fund, will be used to also finance the province’s pre-Palaro preparations, said Salustiano Jimenez, provincial schools division superintendent. 

“This amount is up to December only, and used to refurbish buildings and improve field events that will be used if we host the Palaro,” explained Jimenez. 

He revealed that the board will allot another P2.5 million if Negros Oriental is chosen as next year’s host. 

Negros Oriental launched yesterday its bid to host the annual national sports event in April next year. 

During the launching, Provincial Board Member Rodrigo Alanano announced that the provincial board passed a resolution on September 25 expressing their support for the province’s campaign to bring the Palarong Pambansa in Negros Oriental. 

Jimenez said the private universities and colleges in the province are also supporting the province’s bid, as well as local governments not only in Negros Oriental but also from the nearby provinces of Siquijor, Bohol and Cebu. 

“We really want the Palaro to come here. So now we are giving our all to win the chance to host the Palaro in 2013,” Jimenez said in an interview. 

Palarong Pambansa is an annual multi-level national scholastic competition conducted by the Department of Education for elementary and secondary pupils from public and private schools. 

The event’s hosting is determined by bidding and on a rotation basis, following the Visayas-Luzon-Mindana-Luzon cycle. 

Negros Oriental has yet to host the sports event while the other contender vying for next year’s hosting duties, Negros Occidental, has been a host province on several occasions. (RMN-PIA7, Negros Oriental)