ON December 15 the Department of Education (DepEd) Management Committee (ManCom), together with Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richie Garcia and Commissioner Jolly Gomez, convened itself as the Palarong Pambansa Board to decide who shall be the 2015 Palarong Pambansa host.
The 2015 Palaro shall be held from May 3 to 9, 2015. Consistent with Republic Act (RA) 10588, otherwise known as the Palarong Pambansa law, next year’s Palaro shall be held in Mindanao.
There were five local government units (LGUs) that proceeded to bid for the Palaro hosting (one withdrew to support another LGU from the same region): 1) Province of Zamboanga del Norte, Dipolog City; 2) Province of Lanao del Norte; 3) Province of Davao del Norte, Tagum City; 4) Province of South Cotobato, Koronodal City; and 5) Province of Surigao del Norte, Surigao City and Butuan City.
Since the assumption of Education Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, FSC, and Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera (in his capacity as vice chairman of the Palaro Board), a clear and objective selection process was established to determine each year’s Palaro host. Part of this process is the formation of a joint technical inspection team consisted of technical officials from the DepEd and PSC to conduct an evaluation on the bidder LGU’s existing sports and billeting facilities. The report of the team was presented to the Palaro Board on December 15.
Together with the 15-minute presentation of the LGU bidder (and another “15 minute question-and-answer” period after the bidder’s presentation), the Palaro Board collectively voted and decided who shall be next year’s host. The local chief executives present to lead their respective LGUs were Gov. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte); Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario (Davao del Norte); Mayor Peter Miguel (Koronodal City, South Cotobato); Gov. Sol Matugas (Surigao del Norte) with Mayor Jun Amante (Butuan City); and Vice Gov. Senen Angeles (Zamboanga del Norte). Some of the criteria for the selection of the Palaro host as mandated by law are the following:
- the sports facilities to be used must be of international standard, well-secured and accessible to the general public;.
- the billeting areas for the athletic delegations and technical officials are adequate and conveniently located, with sufficient toilets, washing, kitchen and dining areas.
- The sports facilities and billeting areas must have adequate supply of water and uninterrupted electric power.
- Transportation should be accessible to land, air and water; and
- all socioeconomic-political groups, government and non-governmental agencies in the region must manifest uncompromising unity to host the Palarong Pambansa. All the five LGU bidders are qualified to host the Palaro.
However, after almost six hours of presentation and deliberation, the Palaro Board decided to award the hosting of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa to the Province of Davao del Norte, Tagum City.
It may be important to note that the PSC also announced that its other national and regional events, like the Batang Pinoy and the Philippine National Games, will be held in the other LGUs that bidded for the Palaro.
Considering that all the LGU bidders have showed that they have very good sports facilities to host a national event like Palaro (and that these facilities are currently used by our students through the various sports programs being implemented by LGUs), I think the real winner here is our children.
Congratulations to all the LGUs that bidded for the 2015 Palarong Pambansa hosting. Mabuhay po kayo. Mabuhay ang kabataang atletang Filipino.
- Lawyer Toni Umali is the current assistant secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the DepEd. He is licensed to practice law not only in the Philippines but also in the State of California and some Federal Courts in the United States of America after passing the California State Bar Examinations in 2004. He has served as legal consultant to several legislators and local chief executives. As DepEd assistant secretary, he was instrumental in the passage of the K-to-12 law and the issuance of its Implementing Rules and Regulations. He is also the alternate spokesman of the DepEd.