Palarong Pambansa 2024: P18M portalets rental canceled

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia yesterday announced the cancellation of the P18-million rental of portalets and portabaths intended for the Palarong Pambansa 2024 that the city is hosting, following his review of the procurement orders.

He made the announcement shortly after visiting the track oval of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) to assess its readiness for the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9.

This, as he and his aunt, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, and mayors Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City and Junard Chan og Lapu-Lapu City signed a “Memorandum of Collaboration” (MOC) Monday evening for a “One Cebu” hosting of the Palarong Pambansa on July 9 to 16.

With the agreement, there is a good chance that several games and even the billeting quarters would also be in Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City and even in the cities of Naga and Carcar.

And as co-hosts, these LGUs involved have agreed to shell out financial assistance and t also deploy additional human resource, including security personnel, for the Palaro.

As reported by the Capitol’s official news network, Cebu City Councilors James Anthony Cuenco; Renato Osmeña, Jr.; and Jerry Guardo; as well as Provincial Board Members Glenn Anthony Soco and Red Duterte, and Department of Education-7 Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez were also in attendance to witness the MOC signing.

Speaking about the MOC, Acting Mayor Garcia said it would ensure that there will be enough venues for the hosting of the national sporting event.

“But to tell you honestly, there is no Plan B, there is only Plan A,” he said, referring back to the assurance that the track oval would be completed just in time for the Palaro hosting.

On the cancellation of the 248 portalets and 230 portabaths rental priced at P18 million, which the Local School Board requested, Acting Mayor Garcia said in his letter that it is because of “conditions that render the project no longer economically, financially, or technically feasible considering the necessity of securing additional funds for the implementation of the Palarong Pambansa.”

“The undersigned, as the head of the procuring entity, requests your good office to cancel the…procurement…and that the same be opened again for submission of bids, as may be appropriate, provided that all necessary requirements and procedures under RA 9184 are duly complied with,” read the letter addressed to the head of the Bids and Awards Committee-Goods and Services.

In a press conference, Acting Mayor Garcia also said that he directed the committee of the Palarong Pambansa to review the procurement list again to realign the priorities.

“Maybe because naa nay mga classrooom nga nangaayo na ang ilang mga banyo, maybe half nalang (rent). I am not saying nga di na gyud ta mu-rent og portalets but what I am saying is maybe what we need is much, much, much less than the P18 million,” he said.

He is currently reviewing the procurement orders for the Palaro, especially that it already costs P405 million, which he said would definitely be reduced.

“We will not be spending the entire P400 million,” Acting Mayor Garcia said.

On his inspection of the rubberized track oval, he expressed his satisfaction over its progress that it had shown, as compared to what he saw when he visited it last May 20.

“Makakita na gyud ta nga nabutangan na gyud og second layer and oval which is the rubberized granules nga itom after that will be third layer which is already katong orange nga color,” said Garcia. — (FREEMAN)