Ilocos Sur wins Palaro 2018 bid

MANILA, Philippines — Ilocos Sur won the bid to host the 2018 Palarong Pambansa, Education Asst. Secretary Tonisito Umali said.

Gov. Ryan Singson spearheaded the Ilocos Sur team during the final bidding meet with the representatives of the shortlisted Luzon provinces and cities in attendance at Seameo Innotech in Quezon City.

DepEd Region 1 director Alma Ruby Torio, Ilocos Sur Schools Division superintendent Gemma Tacuycuy, provincial administrator Cara Michelle Peredo, and provincial sports coordinator Marius Cabudol backstopped Gov. Singson who has crafted a robust provincial sports development program.

“We have evaluated Ilocos Sur’s facilities and equipment and they are definitely up to Palarong Pambansa standards, if not better. For starters, the Palaro hub – Quirino Stadium – is state of the art,” said Umali.

 “This is very meaningful for us, as for the first time, Ilocos Sur will host this most prestigious event for elementary and secondary students. We will show to the whole nation what the Ilocosurians are capable of as hosts,” Singson said.

Gov. Singson said the Palaro will have an immense impact on  the province’s economy, tourism and sports development even as he directed all concerned to pull all stops for its success.

Ilocos Sur will have a dry run next month as it hosts the Batang Pinoy Luzon Leg, part of the Philippine Sports Commission’s grassroots sports thrust.

The event aims to bring out  particularly the Ilocos Youth’s talent and skills in various sports, and display values inherent in the practice of sports – discipline, teamwork, cooperation and sportsmanship.

This year’s Palaro was staged in Antique after Davao del Sur’s turn in 2016.