TAGUM CITY -- Davao del Norte bested four other provinces to earn the hosting rights to the Palarong Pambansa next year.

The province earned 16 out of 18 votes during the final bidding and deliberation of the Department of Education Management Committee at the main office in Pasig City, Metro Manila.

The committee composed DepEd regional department heads, representatives from their main office, and representatives from the Philippine Sports Commission. The voting was done through secret balloting.

The committee noted results from the visits of the technical inspection team to the bidding provinces the last few months, mainly to assess the billeting sites and playing venues among other things. The results showed Davao del Norte’s lead by a huge margin showing a final score of 87.2 percent followed by Surigao del Norte with 81.9 percent. The other three provinces were Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, and South Cotabato.

Also taken into consideration were the final presentations of the provinces, which summarized their capabilities to host as well as their responses to the improvements suggested by the technical inspection teams.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said that it was the readiness of Davao del Norte to host the national games from May 3 to 5, 2015 that sealed it.

Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Tonisito Umali also noted the accessibility of billeting sites to venue.

Davao del Norte boasts of an 11-hectare sports complex, the newest among the facilities of the provinces who bid. It includes a 3,000 capacity main grand stand fronted by an eight-lane rubberized track oval and a football field, an Olympic-sized swimming pool with an adjacent warm up pool and a 500-capacity grandstand, a gymnasium, two tennis courts, and a club house. Currently under construction are basketball courts, a softball field, and a baseball field.

Luistro also praised the organized system of Davao del Norte in conducting the Palaro.

“They presented a very, very organized way of doing the Palaro, especially because the facilities are so oriented na hindi masyadong mahihirapan yung mga student athletes natin, technical officials, at yung mga manonood (the student athletes, technical officials, and spectators) will have no diffciulty”, he said.

Undersecretary for Regional Operations Rizalino Rivera said he expected Davao del Norte to stage the smoothest Palaro yet.

“I hope it’s going to be the smoothest Palarong Pambansa ever. From transportation, from the time the delegations arrive, their stay, security, everything”, he said.

Since the inauguration of the complex on December 12, 2012, Davao del Norte had hosted several sporting events, such as the 2014 Privates Schools Athletic Association Games, the 2013 and 2014 Davao Region Athletic Association Games, the 2013 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg, the PFF Regional Qualifiers, and an exhibition game between the Philippine Azkals and the Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office in July 2013.*PNA

back to top

Area 7 leads medal count in athletics
Sharp Aquos I dominates Open Trio bowling tourney
Davao to host 2015 nat’l Palaro
Pacquiao sets aside money issues in showdown against Mayweather