Hot summer worries Lingayen Palaro organizers

PALARONG Pambansa organizers yesterday expressed concerns over the hot summer weather when it stages the annual multi-event on May 6-13 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Education Sec. Armin Luistro said they are taking measures to minimize heat-related injuries during the games even as the Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration) predicted that temperatures could rise between 36-degrees to 37-degrees Celsius in April until mid May.

It even said Tuguegarao, which like Pangasinan is in Northern Luzon, could experience as hot as 38 degrees.

Luistro said they will utilize indoor venues for the event and also implement their usual five-hour midday break.

“We included that in our assessment, but we are using more indoor facilities now,” said Luistro during the press conference for the event. He also signed the memorandum of agreement with Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino.

Heat claimed the lives of at least two delegation members during the 2007 Koronadal Palaro, prompting organizers to take measures like suspending games from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.