With the planned resumption of the Palarong Pambansa next year, the Department of Education-Cordillera has urged officials of the six provinces and Baguio to mount their respective sports meets this December.
DepEd-Cordillera Director Estela Cariño said the sports meet must be conducted in preparation for the upcoming Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association meet next year.
Cariño urged the concerned local government units not to spend the budgets allotted for the conduct of the provincial meet on other projects.
The provincial meets would determine potential athletes who will be part of the Caraa delegation to the Palarong Pambansa as the DepEd central office is bent on conducting the biggest sports competition for elementary and secondary athletes in 2023.
She said the Caraa will also be mounted next year but with restrictions.
Benguet Sports Development Coordinator Dean Mark Monang said they are preparing the provincial sports complex to be used by the athletes in time for the sports meet.
Monang said the rubberized oval track in Wangal, La Trinidad was already finished but is still pending evaluation by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
He said the use of the track and field and the whole sports complex is also being finalized by the Office of the Governor.
DepEd has allowed the staging of the Palarong Pambansa this year but only for some chosen sports events like athletics, volleyball, and softball.
The latest event is the Palaro Visayas-Mindanao Boxing Cup in Cebu City which featured the 15 to 16 years old and 17 to 18 years old categories. The Palarong Pambansa national dancesport limited face-to-face competition is also set on July 28 in Lucena City, which will be participated in by athletes from the region. – Ofelia C. Empian
