Preparations have begun in Pangasinan for this year's Palarong Pambansa, the biggest and most colorful yearly sporting event under the auspices of the Department of Education slated May 6 to 12.
To cover for all the expenses in the school-based national games for elementary and secondary students, the DepEd has allocated a budget of P205.375 million.
The budget was presented in yesterday’s meeting of the Special National Management Committee of DEpEd, in charge of the preparation of the Palarong Pambansa, attended by DepEd regional directors throughout the country.
The meeting held at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, Pangasinan, was co-presided by DepEd Undersecretaries Francisco Varela, Rizalino Rivera and Alberto Muyot as well as assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali, attended by DepEd regional directors.
Also in attendance on the Pangasinan side were Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan and Provincial Board Members Jeremy Rosario, Von Mark Mendoza and Raul Sison.
Of the total budget, Varela said at least P135.6 million will be spent for the repair of facilities in the playing venues.
The remaining amount will be spent in pre-regional and regional athletic meets all over the country.
Meanwhile, Varela said he was very pleased over the preparations and arrangements now being done by the host province of Pangasinan headed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. for this year's Palaro.
It will be the second time since 1995 that Pangasinan is hosting the event. In 1995, Governor Espino was then the police provincial director of Pangasinan.
Francis de la Cruz, DepEd Sports Coordinator and member of the Technical Working Group of the Palarong Pambansa, said this year's Palarong Pambansa will be joined by some 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 17 regions of the country.
The athletes, he said, will not only come from the public elementary and secondary schools but also from the private elementary and secondary schools.
Last year's host to the Palarong Pambansa was Dapitan City with the National Capital Region as champion in both the elementary and secondary division.
Most of the events for the Palarong Pambansa will be played at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center in Lingayen but some games will be given to the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos as well as the towns of Binmaley and Bugallon.*PNA
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