Biggest ever Palaro set to fire off in Laguna

This year’s Palarong Pambansa is expected to be the biggest ever—at least in terms of the number of delegates.

Officials pegged the total number of participants at 11,200 student-athletes, coaches and technical officials who will converge in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, for the staging of the 57th edition of the annual games for elementary and high school students, slated May 5 to 11.

This year’s Palaro, backed by PLDT Home DSL, will feature 27 sports to be held in 16 playing venues.

The delegates from all 17 regions will be housed in 37 public school campuses. Laguna Gov. George “ER” Ejercito said he has deployed 400 policemen and 800 medical personnel for the duration of the competition.

Ejercito and PLDT vice president Gary Dujali had also signed an agreement to put up the Palaro website, aside from providing Internet access in the venues and media center.

The actor-politician said the provincial government will provide each delegation with 12 sacks of rice, roasted pig, roasted calf, 30 trays of eggs, 10 boxes of energy drinks, 30 5-gallon drinking water, 100 kg chicken/pork products and 100 kg fish products.

Each delegate will also be given bags that contain sweater, caps, mugs, tumblers, ballpen, pins, fans, maps and brochures, on top of mattresses.

Action will be shown in real time via live streaming and can also be viewed on big screens set up in SM malls in Calamba, San Pablo and Sta. Rosa.

The Palaro, organized by Department of Education, is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.

With five million tourists coming in every year, Laguna ranks as the third most popular destination in the country behind only Coron, Palawan, and Sagada, Mountain Province.