Marikina hosts 2020 Palaro

MARIKINA, Philippines — Marikina City has been chosen as the new host of the 2020 Palarong Pambansa after the withdrawal of original host Occidental Mindoro, according to the Department of Education.

DepEd, through Undersecretary and Palarong Pambansa secretary general Atty. Revsee Escobedo, announced the news through an official letter released the other day.

The Education department, in fact, has already sent a team on the same day to inspect the sports facilities in the “Shoe Capital of the Philippines.”

It has also requested the city to provide a list of other possible playing and billeting venues with still over five months to go before the annual Palaro next summer.

Reports had it that Occidental Mindoro was forced to back out as host after taking a huge blow from the Typhoon Tisoy earlier this month.

Occidental Mindoro OIC Mario Mulingbayan said in a report that the province absorbed damages amounting to P800 million largely on agricultural and fishing sector.

Marikina City will be the fourth city in the NCR to stage the Palarong Pambansa after Manila, Quezon City and Pasig.

However, it will not be the first time that the city will be home to a grandiose ceremony after hosting the opener of the 74th UAAP Season that featured an Olympic-style rally in 2011 at the Marikina Sports Center.