BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental is bidding to host Palarong Pambansa 2024.
A technical inspection team from the Department of Education (DepEd) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) arrived in the province on Sunday, June 25.
They visited Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan here and inspected the track and field oval, softball diamond field, and the swimming pool.
The swimming pool is currently undergoing refurbishment and is targeted for completion between late 2023 and early 2024, said Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
The renovation works at the Panaad Park cost around P150 million, with the track and field alone costing P50 million.
Lacson also revealed that an additional gymnasium is being constructed at the Panaad Park and Stadium with its target completion before the scheduled Palarong Pambansa next year.
The DepEd and PSC team also visited several other possible sporting venues in the cities of Bacolod and Talisay, and the town of Murcia.
The inspection team will stay in the province until today, June 28. They will proceed to the province of Antique which is also bidding to host Palaro 2024.
Also bidding to host the games is Cebu province.
Negros Occidental was supposed to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2021 but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The province previously hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1971, 1974, 1979, 1998, and 2000./PN
