PSC, DECS to keep Palaro tradition

The Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports yesterday said the Palarong Pambansa will keep its traditional role as the premier source of talents for the country's international commitments even as the Palaro is now the responsibility of the PSC.

The two government bodies expresssed their joint commitment as the PSC stages for the first time the annual Palaro, held by the DECS since its inception, with this year's Millennium edition slated May 21-28 at the Panaad Park and Sports Complex in Bacolod City.

Executive Order No. 81, signed last year by the President, transfers all school sports, including the Palarong Pambansa, to the PSC.

"While we are overwhelmed by the new responsibility given by President Joseph Estrada, the PSC is inspired to welcome the challenge of treasuring and even enriching the tradition and success accumulated by the Palarong Pambansa for decades," said Tuason.

However, the implementing rules and regulations of EO 81 stipulated that it is still the responsibility of DECS to handle all pre-Palarong Pambansa competitions held on the district, provincial and regional level.

As an initial collective effort, the PSC and DECS will launch this year the country's first Sports High Schools all over the country. These Sports High Schools will recruit outstanding athletes from Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy and Palaro ng Bayan. They will also provide a special curriculum for all students to balance their training needs with the academic requirements.

Meanwhile, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials led by Dr. Roger Perez yesterday proposed to the PSC the synchronized staging of the Palaro in 2001.

In the last Centennial Palarong Pambansa in 1998, the tertiary games were held simultaneously with the elementary and high school levels within the same week. The CHED Palaro is set May 23-28 at the UP Diliman.