Young says Cebu City won’t bid for Palaro hosting

Cebu City Councilor Joy Augustus Young believes that there’s no need for Cebu City to host a Palarong Pambansa and hopes the Department of Education might as well give it to other places in Visayas.

“Our target is to improve our ranking. We will just join and not opt for hosting,” said Young when asked if it’s time Cebu City bid when Visayas gets the hosting rotation in 2021.

Cebu City hosted the national sporting meet in 1994 and Young was one of its chief local organizers.

The 61st Palarong Pambansa will be held in Vigan next month, April 14-21, and based on the rotation, Mindanao will host it in 2019, Luzon in 2020 and the Visayas in 2021.

Young, now the deputy mayor for school board and the chair of committee on education in Cebu City, said other areas in Visayas need the hosting.

“Give it to the small towns or cities in Visayas because they need it more than us. It can help their tourism and also improve their sports facilities,” said Young.

Young said Cebu City even passed on the bidding last year. Antique hosted the games in 2017.

The Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) will try to improve its ranking in this year’s Palarong Pambansa after absorbing its worst finish at ninth place in Antique.

“Our goal is to go back to number four, and maybe improve it in the next years,” said Young, referring to Region 7’s usual fourth place finish.

The athletes for Region 7 this year will come from Cebu City, Bohol Province, Lapu-Lapu City, Dumaguete City, Cebu Province, Mandaue City, Tagbilaran City, Negros Oriental, Danao City, Bayawan City, City of Naga, Talisay City, Bogo City, Toledo City, Carcar City and Tanjay City. /