Palaro MOA signed

The City Government inked its partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) relative to the hosting of Palarong Pambansa 2019 set on April 27-May 4, 2019.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing was held yesterday at the City Hall conference room attended by Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, and City Administrator Atty. Zuleika Lopez representing Mayor Sara Duterte.

In the press conference, Briones said the major considerations in choosing the city as this year’s host for the national sports event for students are the sports facility, and billeting quarters available, and the commitment of the city.

“Davao is very easy to reach wherever of the country you are. We will have a point system to measure the technical aspects but what is more important for us is the commitment of the local government,” Briones said.

Briones also signified that she will personally check the main playing venue which is the Davao City-University of the Philippines (DC-UP) Sports Complex especially that finishing touches for the aquatics event is still ongoing.

“According to the project manager Atty. Lawrence Bantiding, everything is on track. We are just putting the bleachers around the area. The warm up pool and the pool itself are already there. Just some finishing touches and we are ready,” Lopez meanwhile reported.

About 15,000 delegates are expected to arrive in the city. Other than delegates, parents, private sectors, alumni associations are also expected to arrive, therefore, more than 30,000 tourist arrivals are expected in the city within the Palarong Pambansa period.

According to Lopez, it has been 69 years after the city hosted a national sports event with the Bureau of Public Schools Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association meet in 1950. (Julianne A. Suarez)