BAGUIO CITY – The City of Baguio and Province of Benguet are ready to participate in the bidding process to be conducted by the Palaro Selection Board (PSB) of the Department of Education to select the next host of the Palarong Pambansa 2018.
Stakeholders from the academe, business, transport, volunteer emergency responders, among others, joined law enforcers, city, municipal and provincial officials and concerned government agencies in the signing of their commitment to extend all-out support in the joint hosting of the national sports competition to be held during the summer months.
Aside from Baguio City, other bidders that submitted their intention to host the 2018 Palarong Pambansa are Bulacan, Isabela, Cagayan, Tarlac and Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
Baguio Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda and Benguet Provincial Administrator Joel Ngolob led the stakeholders in Thursday’s signing of commitment to jumpstart the renewed strong partnership between the government and the private sector to hopefully seal the hosting of next year’s Palarong Pambansa to help enhance the promotion of Baguio and Benguet as a preferred tourist destination and sports and recreation area outside of Metro Manila.
Banking on the tagline “Coolest Palaro Ever,” Domgan disclosed among the advantages of Baguio and Benguet in hosting the national event for the first time is the cool weather, the proximity of sports facilities to the billeting areas, the renewed strong partnership between the government and the private sector, the active participation of various sectors in the preparatory works and the prevailing peace and order situation in the said areas.
He added the premier tourist destinations in Baguio and Benguet, apart from the quality vegetables and fruits, will be given a chance to be aggressively promoted with the expected arrival of some 15,000 athletes and officials, thereby giving a chance to prove that Baguio and Benguet still remain as a potential investment hub in the north.
On their part, both Mayor Salda and Ngolob expressed the readiness of the La Trinidad municipal government and the Benguet provincial government as close partners of the city government in the hosting of the Palaro which means an added publicity for scenic tourist spots, the local agricultural produce and the hospitality of the people who will be welcoming the delegates and visitors to the week-long sports competition.
May Eclar, DepEd-CAR regional director, expressed her confidence that Baguio and Benguet will win the bid for the hosting of next year’s Palaro because of the overwhelming support that the concerned agencies and the local governments continue to receive from various sectors despite the fact that the activities lined up are simply in preparation for the bidding process by the end of this month.
Regional, provincial, city and municipal police officials are also preparing their respective security and traffic plans for the expected influx of Palaro delegates and visitors that will form part of the bid to be submitted by Baguio and Benguet officials before the PSB which is composed of ranking education and sports officials.
By Dexter A. See
