Palaro fate now on lap of Arroyo — Puentevella

The decision to push through with the Palarong Pambansa on June 3 or postpone it for January next year now lies on President Arroyo.

But the proponents of a June 3 schedule found an ally in Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, who appeared convinced that a postponement would be illogical at this point.

"Secretary Romulo will take it up with the President and the President we believe will be taking it up with Secretary [Raul] Roco," said Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella.

Puentevella, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Eric Buhain and Naga City Mayor Jessie Robredo met with Romulo yesterday to ask Malacañang to order the staging of the Palaro on June 3. Roco was also asked to join the meeting but he had to fly to Shanghai, China, for an official business. He will be back Monday.

"I am optimistic Secretary Romulo would be able to convince the President to also convince Secretary Roco about the June 3 Palaro since holding it in January would mean so much," said Puentevella.

"At this point, it is really up to the President," said Puentevella. The President, Puentevella said, is already aware of the crisis. She was briefed about Roco’s decision while on a two-day visit in Malaysia and Thailand early in the week.

Roco, displeased by the PSC’s failure to deliver P32 million for the operational funds of the Department of Education’s Regional Directors, haphazardly cancelled the Palaro Monday. The P32 million was sourced out of the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., which missed the Friday deadline and delivered the money only last Monday.

"A lot will be put to waste," said Puentevella. "One, a January Palaro would involve a new set of athletes different from the ones who trained and prepared hard for the June 3 Palaro. Second, we would be losing at least P40 million."

Naga City has already spent P10 million for the refurbishment of its facilities. But the bigger cake is with the DepEd itself since its regional offices have already spent P31 million for the municipal, district, provincial and regional eliminations in the first quarter of the year.

Romulo, according to Puentevella, was convinced the PSC, which will be on top of the operations, the Palaro will go on smoothly since "everything is practically in place.

"We can hold the Palaro anytime," Buhain reiterated. "Preparations are in high gear and only minute details are left to be ironed out."

"I am optimistic as Rep. Puentevella that Secretary Roco, a very reasonable man, would reconsider," said Buhain. "We are very much concerned with the athletes and with the disruption of the program which we have set up. A disruption would create a domino effect to the other grassroots and mass-based programs we have set up."