LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, May 5 (PNA) -- This year's Palarong Pambansa will
fire off Sunday with the elimination round of different games at various
playing venues in Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao and the cities of
Dagupan and San Carlos.
On the eve of the start of the elimination phase, the host province of
Pangasinan announced that all the 10,000 athletes from 17 regions of the
country have already checked in and are staying in different billeting
centers.
It will be the second time in 17 years that the province of Pangasinan
is hosting the Palarong Pambansa since 1995, at a time when retired Gen.
Fidel V. Ramos, a son of Lingayen, was president of the Philippines.
Though the games begin on Sunday, the formal opening is scheduled on
Monday when President Benigno S. Aquino III will address the athletes,
coaches and officials, including spectators at the Narciso Ramos Sports
and Civic Center (NRSCC), main venue of the Palaro, in Lingayen.
President Aquino was personally invited to grace the Palarong Pambansa by Education Secretary Armin Luistro.
Expected to come with the President are Interior and Local Government
Secretary Jesse Robredo and Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority Director-General Joel Villanueva, a product of the Palarong
Pambansa.
The opening ceremonies will be preceded by the parade of athletes at
7:00 a.m. from the Pangasinan provincial capitol grounds to NRSCC to be
completed in time for the opening program at 10:00 a.m.
Security is tight in all the playing venues in Pangasinan and the police
is enforcing a total gun ban that started April 27 and will continue up
to May 15, even after the Palarong Pambansa slated from May 6 to 12 is
already over.
Police Regional Director Franklin Bucayu assured the security of all
athletes, coaches, Department of Education officials and all spectators
in all the game venues.
Bucayu said that under the total gun ban being enforced, only policemen
and other members of law enforcement agencies are allowed to carry their
firearms outside their homes provided that they are in proper uniform
and must be on official duty.
On the eve of the Palarong Pambansa, Atty. Verna Perez, head of the
Palaro Secretariat, reminded that they are showcasing a “green and
environmentally-friendly Palaro” that can be made as the benchmark of
future events.
This means that cleanliness and sanitation will be strictly enforced in
all the playing venues and the billeting centers and that the use of
plastic and Styrofoam will be discouraged.
For their own protection, athletes will be barred from swimming in the
beaches of Pangasinan throughout the duration of the national games.
For the first time in the history of the Palaro, all games will be
brought to the public via live streaming which can be accessed through
cellphones and computers. (PNA)