Private sector urged to help secure Palaro bid
WITH BAGUIO City and Benguet working in unison to bring Palarong Pambansa 2018 to the Cordillera region, the Department of Education is seeking the help of the private sector to rally for the hosting of the largest sports competition in the country.
During a technical working group meeting this week, DepEdCAR regional director May Eclar rallied for the support of the private sector aside from the different local government units in Benguet as it finalizes the presentation of Baguio and Benguet in their bid to co-host the 2018 Palarong Pambansa.
“We believe that with the help of all stakeholders, we can win the bid for the hosting of Palarong Pamabansa,” Eclar said.
Eclar together with Baguio City Schools Superintendent Federico Martin , representatives from Baguio, La Trinidad and Benguet led by Provincial Administrator Noel Ngolob, the Baguio City Police Office and other agencies met recently to discussed the region’s capability of billeting more than 12,000 participants coming from the 18 regions in the
country during the weeklong sports competition.
Aside from the billeting, the group also discussed venues for the games, security, budgetary requirements and traffic scheme
With the theme, “Coolest Palaro”, the presentation will highlight Baguio and Benguet’s year-round temperate climate, unique culture, vibrant arts and sports scene, tourist sites, peace and order situation, adequate facilities, world-class accommodations, and others.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Ngolob and Eclar met earlier with representatives of local universities and colleges to confirm their commitments in allowing their facilities and equipment to be used if ever Baguio and Benguet are chosen as hosts of the country’s largest sports event. It will be the first time that the Cordillera region will be the Palaro’s venue should this happen.
Domogan expressed the city’s desire to serve as venue of the country’s largest sports event and with the completion of the Baguio Athletic Bowl’s rehabilitation and partnership with Benguet, the dream can now be fulfilled.
The mayor said the city expects to face tough competition during the bidding scheduled on the last week of August since there are several government units equally interested to host the sports meet.
“With the support of Benguet province, we are confident that our bid will be given favorable consideration by the Palarong Pambansa Technical Evaluation Committee headed by DepEd,” Domogan stressed.
Last month, the city sports office under Gaudencio Gonzales conducted a facility and equipment evaluation to assess the city’s capability in housing the sports spectacle including those privately owned that can be tapped for the activity.
Gonzales said they are confident Baguio and Benguet can present enough number of venues, facilities and equipment both for the events and accommodation of thousands of participants from the other regions to satisfy the organizers’ requirements. Roderick Osis with a report from Gaby Keith/Baguio City PIO