Palaro postponed a third time

The Palarong Pambansa, twice postponed during the last three years for political or financial reasons, has been postponed to January next year in Naga City.

In a strongly-worded letter, Education Secretary Raul Roco informed Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain of the postponement, even as he slammed the latter for the PSC’s failure to prepare for the Palaro and for including basketball in the competitions.

"The management committee of DepEd voted to postpone the Palarong Pambansa (since) there was no more time nor money for training and good preparation," Roco said in his letter to Buhain.

The letter reached Buhain yesterday afternoon even as he had, earlier in the day, already released to the regional directors a check for P36.8 million – P30-million from the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. and P6.8-million from the PSC – for the preparations and actual staging of the Palarong Pambansa in Naga City June 3-9.

Buhain immediately wrote an appeal letter asking Roco to reconsider the decision "since everything is all set for the games."

"A cancellation means there would be no Palaro for two consecutive years and that would be unhealthy for the country’s grassroots sports development program, particularly on the continuity of those programs," said Buhain.

With only a month left before the start of competitions, Roco blew his top when he learned yesterday the PSC had exceeded the deadline (Friday) for the release of the funds to the regional directors.

Roco helped Naga City win the bid to host the Palarong Pambansa, a multi-sports event for elementary and high school students, over Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The Palaro was originally scheduled in April. With President Arroyo undecided on this year’s host – Naga, represented by Roco, or Tubod, represented by Rep. Bobby Dimaporo – the PSC decided to hold it May 19-28 to get more time to prepare its manpower resources and acquire the funds for competitions.

The DepEd, which is mobilizing school teachers and technical officials for the event, suggested May 26-June 2 as the new date but later set it June 2-8 and much later to June 3-8, since the President would be available for the opening only on June 3.

This is the second time the PSC is asking the DepEd to reconsider its decision to postpone this year’s Palaro.

Earlier, the Education department had to reconsider its April 26 decision to cancel the Palaro because of the "flurry of appeals" from the PSC.

Roco also assailed Buhain for including basketball in the competition in violation of their agreement.

"The agreement was to concentrate on events where the Philippines can excel in world competition ... Yet the memos issued by the PSC to the regions surreptitiously added basketball which increases expenses without adding to the potential of getting a gold medal in international contests," he said.

"Finally, June is enrollment time and preparation for school opening. The DepEd cannot sacrifice the education of our children on account of your delays," he said.

The Palaro was held in Naga in 1997 and in Bacolod in 1998 and 2000. The 1999 Palaro in Tubod, Lanao del Norte was postponed because of lack of preparations and security reasons in the region. Last year’s Palaro, which was to be held in Tubod, was postponed again for lack of funds.