Mayor confident of city’s successful Palaro hosting

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama remains confident of a successful hosting of the Palarong Pambansa despite the planned changes on the schedule earlier than originally planned.

Supposedly, the event will take place end of July to August but some Department of Education officials accordingly are pushing to move it much earlier.

A source said, some want May, others in the month of June.

What Rama also knows is it might be in June right after the end of the current school year.

“What we tentatively learn from DepEd is June...But nothing’s final yet until it’s launching,” Rama told The Freeman yesterday.

DepEd-Cebu City Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Adolf Aguilar, said there is no final decision yet on this matter.

“Naa pa sa consultation process,” Aguilar said.

Rama added the change of schedule is most likely due to the opening of the new school-year, but said, “Ila pud na”.

Even with only a few months left for its preparation, Rama said he is okay with the month of June as some even wanted it earlier.

“There is still enough time,” said Rama.

The most crucial thing right now in the city’s upcoming hosting is the installation of the new rubberized oval at the Cebu City Sports Center.

However, other local sports officials are also confident it will be done soon.

The Freeman also learned that the cluster event or pre-Palaro battle after the regional meet will also be scrapped after being introduced last year.

It’s been 30 years since Cebu City last hosted the Palarong Pambansa, also mainly at the CCSC.

Renovations at the other areas of CCSC have now proceeded after being briefly put on hold due to the staging of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and Lalawigan over the weekend.