Stadium development to continue despite losing Palaro 2024 bid

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said the development of infrastructures at the Panaad Park and Stadium will continue despite the province losing its bid to host the Palarong Pambansa 2024 to Cebu City.

“We just take it as it is, and I think whatever decisions were made, it’s for best for the holding of the Palarong Pambansa. The provincial government through governor Lacson made a bid, we put our best foot forward, offering them the best that Negrosanon can offer, but you know we cannot question the wisdom behind the choosing of Cebu City over Negros Occidental,” Diaz said.

He also said that governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has said that there is no time to feel sorry and just to “wait for our turn.”

The announcement was made by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte during the end of the school-based sports event, which was held at the Marikina Sports Center, on August 5.

It will be the third time in history that Cebu City will host the premier sports event of student-athletes from elementary and secondary levels of 18 regions of the country. It also hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1954 and 1994.

Lacson has congratulated Cebu City for winning the bidding.

Asked if the provincial government will bid again, Lacson said Visayas will have a chance in 2028.

“It will be an election year, and a new governor will be installed,” he added.

The hosting rights of the biggest scholastic sports gathering annually follow a Luzon-Visayas-Luzon-Mindanao rotation principle, with Ilocos Norte securing the 2025 staging, as officially announced by the Department of Education during the Palarong Pambansa closing ceremony at the Marikina Sports Complex.

The National Capital Region ruled the 2023 Palarong Pambansa, with Western Visayas trailing closely behind.

Results released by the Department of Education showed the National Capital Region garnered a total of 85 golds, 74 silvers, and 55 bronzes to come out as the overall champion.

Western Visayas grabbed 60 golds, 45 silvers, and 44 bronzes to take 2nd place, while Southern Tagalog got 52 golds, 52 silvers, and 57 bronzes.

NCR also ruled both the elementary and secondary levels.

Region 6 topped the Demo Sports with 13 gold, 8 silvers, and 2 bronze medals, as well as ruling the Para Games with 27 golds, 13 silvers, and 6 bronze medals.

Diaz said that developments of some facilities at the Panaad Park and Stadium supposedly for the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa will continue saying that it is part of the vision of Lacson to upgrade sports facilities for the training of the province’s athletes.

One of these is the establishment of the Athletes Village at the Panaad Park and Stadium, Diaz said.

He said the facilities can be used for the provincial and regional sports meets.