Benguet optimistic of co - hosting 'coolest' Palaro
DESPITE their meager budget for sports, Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso remains optimist of cohosting the largest sports event in the country.
Pacalso said with all the venues and billeting areas already in place, he believes the highland region is capable of hosting Palarong Pambansa next year.
“We remain optimistic. And if this will all be based on the merits of our bid, then we don’t see any obstacle in hosting the coolest Palarong Pambansa,” said Pacalso.
A team of the Palaro School Board composed of members from the Department of Education and the Philippine Sports Commission is set to visit Baguio City and Benguet today until the 18th to inspect the different possible ven-
ues and billeting quarters if they are capable of housing nearly 15,000 athletes from all over the region.
Pacalso said among the possible sites of venues include Wangal Sports Complex, Benguet State University, Kings College of the Philippines, and Cordillera Career Development College.
“With the commitment of these colleges and university in the province, Benguet will be ready to host the Palaro,” stressed the governor.
Aside from La Trinidad, Benguet provincial administrator Noel Ngolob said the towns of Tuba and Itogon are also being considered as billeting areas.
The campaign to clinch the hosting job for the country’s annual multi-sport event adopted the battle cry, “The Coolest Palarong Pambansa” to showcase the localities’ best advantage – the cold weather.
Nine other attributes were identified as selling points packaged as hottest reasons for the coolest Palaro ever, portraying Baguio and Benguet as the best sports-tourism site, as home of world champions and international stars, as rich cultural heritage and vibrant art scene, cradle of the world-renowned festival and world records, with world-class venues and accommodations, athlete-friendly billeting centers, firstrate medical services, as educational hub of the north and as places of steadfast solidarity.
More ideas however sprang as heads of the LGUs, line agencies, private organizations and local sports icons got together for the commitment signing.
Department of Education Cordillera (DepEd-CAR) information officer Georaloy Palao-ay quipped not only are Baguio and Benguet the coolest venue for Palaro but they are also the closest to heaven which brings to mind the Tagalog phrase, “Abot-kamay ang Langit.” Roderick Osis