Palaro may return to Naga as Palayan withdraws bid

The Palarong Pambansa, an annual multi-sports event for elementary and high school students, may return to Naga City this year.

This came after Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani announced the withdrawal of Palayan City, Nueva Ecija in hosting the meet, leaving Naga City as the only local government unit with an official bid.

"Nueva Ecija is out," said Bacani during Friday’s 16th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Sports Commission at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

"Naga City remains the only one officially bidding to host the Palaro," he added.

Naga City has been hosting the Palaro in the past. The last time was four years ago when Western Visayas edged the National Capital Region for the overall title.

Top officials from Nueva Ecija, one of the Central Luzon provinces hit recently by a typhoon, said the province backed out due mainly to lack of time in preparing for the staging of the meet last held in Iloilo City a year back.

The event is set in May, or barely four months from now.

"It will be too late for us because some venues are not yet 100-percent," said the official, whose province constructed a complex last year solely for the hosting of national events like the Palaro.

Puerto Princesa, Palawan, an ideal sporting haven because of its scenic and clean venues, has shown interest in hosting the Palaro last year but hasn’t made it official just yet.

The Palaro is one of the grassroots development programs slated to be held this year, the other two being the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Games and the Philippine National Games, which is open to national team mainstays and amateurs. — Joey Villar