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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA and GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – This province will not bid to host the 2017 Palarong Pambansa.
Hosting the national games will cost too much, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. said without detailing how much exactly.
He stressed the provincial government has other priorities. “Damo pa napanghingagaw nga programa,” said the governor.
“Gusto ko matapos insigida ang [rehabilitation sang] 12 ka hospitals kag ma-fast-track ang implementasyon sang provincial road concreting under the Philippine Rural Development Project and national Kalsada program,” he said.
Iloilo was among the areas being considered to host the Palaro. Others were the cities of Cebu, Tacloban and Bacolod.
Negros Occidental has dropped its bid, citing the lack of the funding support from the local Department of Education division. Antique, on the other hand, was reportedly bidding for the hosting, too.
Iloilo has hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1955, 1991 and 2005.
But Defensor did not say the capitol is abandoning sports altogether.
Iloilo should focus on sports events where Ilonggos have a bigger chance of winning, he said, citing taekwondo, football and track.
“Let us try to concentrate on events where there is a possibility we will excel, indi sa sports nga waay gid kita padaog,” he said.
For now, the governor said they wanted to make the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz, Iloilo City of international standard.
He sent Provincial Engineer Gracianito Lucero and provincial sports consultant Pablito Araneta to Davao del Norte to check out the province’s sports complex. Davao del Norte hosted the Palaro in 2015.
Lucero said Iloilo may adopt the “design and build” scheme Davao del Norte used in constructing its sports complex.
Capitol also plans to improve the lighting at the football field./PN
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