Make Palaro a success — GMA

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told Education Secretary Raul Roco and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain yesterday to work hand in hand to ensure the success of the twice-postponed Palarong Pambansa set to unfold June 3 in Naga City.

"Sana maging successful ang Palaro," Buhain quoted President Arroyo yesterday as saying during a surprise visit at the Dusit Hotel in Makati City, where Roco and Buhain met.

"The President shook my hands and she told Secretary Roco and me to work together for the successful staging of the Palaro," Buhain told the STAR in a telephone interview.

The meeting of the three came a day after President Arroyo approved the holding of the multi-sports meet for high school and elementary students, reversing Roco’s earlier decision postponing the event from June to January next year.

Roco, Buhain, DepEd Undersecretary Ramon Bacani and all 16 regional directors have agreed to cooperate and "go after excellence" towards achieving the goal President Arroyo had set up for them.

Buhain also said the agency is set to release an additional P10-millon fund to cover additional expenses for the sudden increase of athletes’ allowances, transportation and uniforms to be used in the June 3 opening in Naga City where President Arroyo is expected to attend.

The PSC, the DepEd and the 16 regional directors have also agreed to exclude basketball, a move originally initiated by Roco, from the Palarong Pambansa calendar, thus reducing the number of events from 17 to 16.

Meanwhile, with barely two weeks left before the opening, the DepEd is now in a mad rush to recall and train the athletes who would participate in the event.

"There is a valid reason for the cancellation and the PSC should have known that. Sports requires preparation. We can’t understand what game the PSC is playing for insisting on holding Palaro next month," said a DepEd insider. — With report from Sheila Crisostomo