Western Visayas, Calabarzon athletes look to challenge NCR dominance in Palarong Pambansa

The Department of Education and the Province of Laguna signed Monday afternoon the memorandum of agreement formalizing the conduct of the 2014 Palarong Pambansa from May 4 to 10. Earl Victor Rosero, GMA News

Around 15,000 to 17,000 of the country's top young athletes — some from the poorest and disaster-hit communities — are expected to display their Olympic potential at the 2014 Palarong Pambansa on May 4 to 10 this year in Laguna province, organizers said.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro and Laguna Governor Jeorge Ejercito said Monday afternoon that Bohol, Cebu, Samar, and Leyte will send delegates to the Palaro even though they are still reeling from the recent calamities that hit their areas.

Students from the Western Visayas and Calabarzon provinces (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) will continue to challenge to the long-standing dominance of the National Capital Region in the overall Palaro standings, according to DepEd Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali.

Western Visayas placed second in 2013 while Southern Tagalog Calabarzon ranked third in 2012.

Luistro said organizers will strive to continue the practice of awarding cash incentives, but quickly added they need the support of sponsors to sustain this effort.

“Ang dami pong napaka-gagandang nangyayari na puwedeng i-feature...and once media gives notice especially to the athletes and their life stories, I think our donors and private corporations will also begin to take notice,” the DepEd chief said. 

In the 2013 Palaro, the cash incentive for each individual gold medalist was P3,000. For gold winners in teams of less than five members, the incentive is also P3,000, but for teams larger than five, each medalist gets P1,000. The cash prize was also P3,000 for record-breakers in individual and team sports. The incentives apply only to the regular sports events on the Palaro program.

Wushu, billiards and wrestling are among the new events in the 2014 Palaro, DepEd officials said.

Governor Ejercito said boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and basketball stars James Yap, Jeric Teng, and Jeron Teng will grace the opening ceremonies. “They will run one lap around the track oval before they light the fire that will signal the start of the Palaro,” the governor said.

Laguna budgeted P70 million for its hosting of the Palaro. He said this amount does not include the P1 billion the province has allocated for infrastructure spending to improve the Laguna sports complex and make repairs to classrooms which will serve as billeting for athletes.

Ejercito added Laguna's facilities include a sports village consisting of condominium type units for delegates 

The province is hosting the Palaro for the first time. Ejercito said Laguna had vied to host twice before and succeeded this time around.   

Source: AMD, GMA News http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/343659/sports/campussports/western-visayas-calabarzon-athletes-look-to-challenge-ncr-dominance-in-palarong-pambansa