DavNor in tip top shape to host 2015 Palaro Pambansa

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Oct. 13, 2014 – Members of the Technical Inspection team from the Department of Education (DepED) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said the Province of Davao del Norte has met all the requirements to host the 2015 Palarong Pambansa.

“The Province of Davao del Norte has sufficiently met the requirements for possible hosting of the national games next year,” said Jason Razal, a member of the four-man inspecting team.

The group was recently here to evaluate the playing venues and billeting quarters likely for next year’s edition of the national games.

Razal added his team was impressed with the facilities and amenities now available in the booming Banana Capital of the country.

Other members of the inspecting team include Fernando Flores and Edmon Grey Prado, who are all part of the School Sports and Special Events & Activities Unit (SSSEAU) from the DepEd Central Office. They were joined by Jerry Calicdang from the PSC.

The province boasts of its spanking 11-hectare Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex (DNSTC) that has a 3,000-capacity main grand stand, rubberized track oval, Olympic-sized swimming pool with warm-up pool, 1,000-seat bleacher and clubhouse, football field, baseball field, two lawn tennis courts, air-conditioned gymnasium, outdoor basketball courts and a perimeter professional lighting system for night events.

The team noted that while the other provinces joining the bid are still on the process of rehabilitating or building additional playing venues, all that is left for Davao del Norte to do is “to put a little icing on the cake.”

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has vowed to do all the necessary preparations to successfully host the country’s largest sports conclave next year.

“We have all what it takes to successfully run the 2015 Palarong Pambansa,” the governor assured.

Aside from the world-class sports facilities, the governor trumpeted the relative peace and order condition in the province, adequate billeting accommodations, quality hotels and reliable communication services, among other criteria.

Among the events that will be played during the week-long annual national games are archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, billiards and wrestling.

About 13,000 athletes, coaches and officials, are expected to participate in the annual multi-sporting event involving student-athletes from the 17 regions of the Philippines organized and governed by the DepED.(Noel Baguio-PIO DavNor)