BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday morning he will personally present the province’’s bid to host the 2024 Palarong Pambansa at the Department of Education (DepEd) central office in Manila on Friday.
“I will tell them about the food and the area. I will tell them it will not all be sports, especially in Panaad [Stadium]. We will have some festive mood. I will ask the local government units to open their pavilions,” Lacson said, adding that Negros Occidental is a sports-loving province.
The governor also wanted to project Negros Occidental as one of the country’s top sports destinations.
Lacson will be accompanied for the presentation by the Provincial Public Information Officer, Engineer Head, and Provincial Sports Coordinator Tony Agustin.
Cebu and Antique are the other provinces bidding to host the 2024 national games.
Last month, a technical inspection team from DepEd and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was in Negros Occidental and inspected the Panaad Park and Stadium.
The DepEd and PSC team also visited several other possible sporting venues in Bacolod City, Talisay City and Murcia town.
Negros Occidental was supposed to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2021, but the event was canceled due to the pandemic.
The province had hosted the national games in 1971, 1974, 1979, 1998, and 2000./PN
