DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, in her message read by City Administrator Zuleika Lopez before the official signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the 2019 Palarong Pambansa hosting with the Department of Education (DepEd) at Davao City Hall on Monday, April 8, said they will do their best to "give everyone a Palarong Pambansa they would never forget."
Duterte-Carpio, who was absent during the MOA signing as she was reportedly on official business, said in a written message that the agreement officially seals the City Government of Davao's partnership with DepEd.
"We have prepared long and hard for this opportunity. We recently hosted the regional qualifying Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet for two years to ensure that we are ready in terms of the logistics, manpower, training facilities, sports venues and other preparations necessary for hosting such a big event," the mayor said.
She added that they will also make sure that hospitals and emergency medical services are ready, that they have a better security team, and peace and order cluster are ready to ensure the safety of both participants and audiences during their stay in Davao.
She thanked DepEd for the opportunity to host the Palaro, 69 years after it last hosted Bureau of Public Schools-Interscholastic Athletics Association Games (BPISAA) in 1950, then a precursor to the Palarong Pambansa.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, for her part, said she is confident that Davao City will exceed all its promises and assurances during the bidding process.
"This agreement seals what we have agreen upon. Hosting is crucial. Palaro won't happen without the host, if the host can't deliver what was promised in the bidding. I am confident that the city of Davao will fulfill its commitment and even more," Briones said.
She also said that some 20,000 participants and their families, coaches and officials are expected to come as the Palaro is the biggest non-academic event of DepEd.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, meanwhile, reiterated his and the agency's support to the Palaro.
"On behalf of my Board, we are willing to support the Palaro being the only genuine grassroots sports program here. We are here to supported Deped and the city of Davao," the PSC chief said.
The Palarong Pambansa is slated April 27 to May 4. The Davao City-UP Sports Complex will host the opening and closing ceremonies and it will also serve as venue for the archery, swimming, football volleyball.
Briones along with her undersecretaries and assistant secretaries inspected the Davao City-UP Sports Complex yesterday afternoon.