3 Mindanao cities gear up for 2011 Palaro

TARLAC PROVINCE , Philippines  – The 2011 Palarong Pambansa will be held in Mindanao next year with Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte or Misamis Oriental tipped to fight it out for the hosting rights.

Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani made this announcement during the opening of the weeklong multi-sports meet for elementary and high school students in this agricultural San Jose town located right in the heart of this progressive province.

“Next year’s host would either be Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte or Misamis Oriental,” said Bacani.

Sources, however, said Dapitan has the best chance of gaining the 2011 hosting rights.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno made his bid known as early as two years ago and plans to hold the games at the newly renovated sports complex in Cagayan de Oro City.

Panabo, Davao del Norte was the early leader but withdrew at the last minute for undisclosed reasons.

The bidder must have an Olympic-size sports complex like the Tarlac Recreational Park here, ample billeting areas with enough water and power supply with basic medical services, stable peace and order condition and willingness to allocate funds for billeting and other infrastructural requirements.

After the task force on school sports inspects the proposed venue, the DepEd board, headed by Sec. Mona Valisno, will evaluate and decide on the winning bid.

“We’ll announce it in due time but so far we’re still evaluating and studying everything,” said Bacani.