Tough security plan laid out for Palarong Pambansa in Davao City

DAVAO CITY – A total of 3,866 security personnel will be deployed to ensure the safety of athletes, coaches and other officials, who will be participating in the 62nd Palarong Pambansa (National Games), the country’s biggest local sporting event, from April 27 to May 4 in Davao City, according to Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay.

Sumagaysay said, in an interview, that the security plan had already been prepared weeks ahead of the Palarong Pambansa, an annual multi-sport event involving student-athletes from the 17 regions of the Philippines, which would draw a crowd of around 20,000.

Sumagaysay expressed confidence that everything was all set for the city’s hosting of the Palaro, its second since its 1950. Davao took a year of preparation for the sporting event.

In 2015, the City of Tagum in Davao del Norte hosted the 58th edition of the national games.

“It’s ready for implementation. Everything has been set. All the security components are already aware of it,” he said.

He said the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 and the military’s 103rd Infantry Brigade will provide augmentation to strengthen the security set-up here during the Palaro.

He said they expect the bulk of the delegates to arrive days before the sporting event.

He added the local government will also install high definition CCTVs in all the playing venues at the 20-hectare world-class Davao City-University of the Philippines Sports Complex in the UP-Mindanao campus in Tugbok.

Sumagaysay added the security plan for the 26 billeting quarters and 32 playing venues have also been laid out.

“We have assigned security in every billeting quarter and playing venues where security team leaders would be assigned,” he said.

He also assured delegates that the Davao City Central 911, City Health Office, and City Social Services and Development Office will be deployed to attend to their concerns.