BAGUIO is upbeat on winning its bid to host the 2016 Palarong Pambansa, especially now that it is upgrading its sports facilities.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan has announced that Baguio plans to submit its bid to the Department of Education later this year.
Baguio and Benguet province lost their bid to jointly host this year’s Palaro, which was held in Tagum City last May.
Domogan said Baguio has a bigger chance this time because the rehabilitation of the Baguio Athletic Bowl would have been finished by next year.
“This is why Baguio is looking to improve its facilities, but as of the present condition we are already capable,” he said.
Domogan said the city will be pairing up again with Benguet in bidding for the national games.
DepEd-Cordillera Regional Director Ellen Donato said the partnership between Baguio and Benguet will be sufficient to provide the venues and quarters for the more than 5,000 athletes and sports officials who will participate in the Palaro.
“It is possible, and probably we have something to offer,” Donato said.
Apart from the Athletic Bowl and the Benguet Sports Complex in Wangal, La Trinidad, local universities and other private sports facilities can be tapped as venues for the 26 sporting events, he added.
“We are hoping, especially now that for the second year in a row we have continuously improved our rankings in the national medal count,” Donato said.
In the Palaro in Tagum, Cordillera finished fourth, its best placing ever, winning 24 gold, 22 silver, and 16 bronze medals.