In support to Gov.Alfredo Marañon’s call to help the province’s bid to host the 2013 Palarong Pambansa, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia wrote to Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, endorsing Negros Occidental as next year’s host of the school-based national sports and cultural competition.

In his letter, Leonardia cited the long history of cooperation among the local government units in the province in hosting national and international sports events.

Bacolod, as the capital city of Negros Occidental, was one of the host cities of the Southeast Asian Games when the biennial sporting spectacle was held in the country in 2005.

The national men’s football team, Azkals, also played its first home game in the AFC Challenge Cup in February last year at the Panaad Park and Sports Stadium.

Bacolod, along with the cities of Silay, Talisay, and Bago, also hosted the various events of the 1st POC-PSC National Games that brought hundreds of national athletes to the city.

Also known as the home of the world-class softball girls athletes from ETCS and Domingo Lacson National High School, Bacolod City was chosen as venue of the 2011 Asia Pacific Little League Championships in June last year.

‘SPORTS CAPITAL’

With all these national and international competitions, Leonardia said in his letter to Luistro, Bacolod is the emerging “Sports Capital” of the Philippines.

“We are willing to prove that beyond our capability to host national games, we can also showcase our investment potentials and other attractions as a premier destination in our country,” Leonardia said.

“We can realize this if given a chance to host the thousands of athletes, officials and guests to the 2013 Palarong Pambansa,” the mayor added, in his letter to Luistro.

OPTIMISTIC

Meanwhile, DepEd officials in the region are optimistic about Negros Occidental’s chances to host the Palaro next year.

In a meeting last month, DepEd Regional Director Mildred Garay said she is 90 percent sure the province will win the bid against the cities of Dumaguete and Cebu, that also expressed interest to host the games.

Garay said Negros Occidental is more prepared and has existing facilities to host the event.*NAB

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