BACOLOD CITY — By a majority vote, the Negros Occidental provincial government won the bid to host the 64th Palarong Pambansa in 2021.
“This is a big boost to Negros Occidental, and the province has two years to prepare for it,” said Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.
The national sports event was also held in the province in 1971, 1974, 1979, 1998, and 2000.
Marañon said Negros Occidental won the bid to host the Palarong Pambansa over Capiz.
In a letter to Marañon, Department of Education (DepEd) Acting Undersecretary and Palarong Pambansa Secretary General Revsee Escobedo said the Palaro Board conducted a special board meeting on April 3 and studied the report presented by the technical inspection team.
The Palaro Board is composed of members from the DepEd, Philippine Sports Commission, and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Negros Occidental signified its interest to host the national annual schools sports event last year, and Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the team who defended its bid at the DepEd central office in Manila.
He was accompanied by DepEd Region VI Director Gemma Ledesma, Negros Occ. Schools Division Superintendent Portia Mallorca, Bacolod City Schools Division Superintendent Cynthia Demavivas, Negros Occ. Provincial Information Officer Karen Dinsay, Executive Assistant to the Vice Governor, Jonathan Lobaton, Romeo Sison of DepEd – Negros Occ., and Eden Arriola of DepEd – Bacolod.
The Palarong Pambansa this year will be held in Davao City, while next year’s games will be staged in Luzon.