P-Noy, Binay to grace Palaro rites; all venues completed

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines  – President Aquino and Vice President Jojo Binay will grace this year’s staging of Palarong Pambansa here even as the hosts announced the completion of all infrastructure facilities six days before the event gets going Sunday.

Department of Education (DepEd) Region 9 director Walter Albos said Binay will deliver the Palaro keynote speech and declare the games open on May 8 while the President will address the participants in the closing rites on May 14.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro will introduce the main speakers, said Albos who added that both programs will be held at the main grandstand of the 10-hectare Dapitan-based Jose Rizal Memorial State University, the main venue of the week-long meet.

At the same time, former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, said the city is now 100 percent ready to host the event for elementary and high school student-athletes.

He added that they spent P400 million to put up the main grandstand, swimming pools, rubberized track oval and several concrete courts of various ball games with help coming from the local government officials of Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and members of the House of Representatives from Western Mindanao (also called Zamboanga Peninsula).

The DepEd also put in some P200 million for the purchase of various athletic equipment, materials and supplies needed for the Palaro which will be participated in by some 10,000 athletes, coaches and meet officials from 17 regions.

Meanwhile, Albos said several regional athletic delegations have started to arrive and have been billeted at various public elementary and secondary school buildings in Dapitan, Dipolog and nearby Zamboanga del Norte towns.