DepEd chief lauds all-out Palaro buildup

DAPITAN CITY, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines – Preparations for the staging of the Palarong Pambansa, including venues and major infrastructure projects, is near-completion three weeks before the event fires off May 8 in this Shrine City.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro, who flew in here last week to visit the Palaro site and expressed satisfaction over the accomplishment of all major infrastructure projects over l5 days before the start of the week-long National Schools Games at the 10-hectare sports complex of the Dapitan City-based Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU).

“I consider the work completion a miracle,” Luistro said.

Former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, Palaro executive committee chairman, told Luistro that some P400 million has been poured into the various infrastructure projects, including the 120-meter long main pre-fabricated grandstand, the track oval’s asphalting, soft surface (ESR), embankment, the Olympic-sized 25x50 meter, 10-lane swimming pool as well as the four-lane 12x25-meter warm-up pool.

He said the amount largely came from financial contributions of concerned local government   leaders of Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Sur and various members of the House of Representatives in Western Mindanao.

Dapitan City engineer Elmer Villoria, overall chairperson on Palaro infrastructure projects, also reported the recent completion of the P5 million roofing of the JRMSU gym, additional P5 million lawn tennis court, P3.2 million swimming pool shower room, P4 million perimeter fence and the P5 million billeting quarters in various local schools.

The P120 million covered sports center in Dipolog City, venue of the Palaro basketball games, is also nearing completion, according Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rolando Yebes.