Organizers aim to promote ‘peaceful, eco-friendly’ Palaro

DUMAGUETE CITY—The 2013 Palarong Pambansa officially kicked off yesterday with the organizers aiming for a “peaceful and eco-friendly competition.”

Bro. Arman Luistro, secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), said in a press conference yesterday at the session hall of the of the Negros Oriental (NegOr) Capitol that this year’s competition pitting the country’s top secondary and elementary athletes will be more than just about sports.

“We want the athletes realize that they have to be more involved in the environmental programs,” he said. “This year, the athletes will be conducting outreach programs, where they will be encouraged  to plant trees in their respective billeting areas.”

To make the Palaro more eco-friendly, the delegations were urged not to use utensils made of plastics and styropor.

Aside from promoting an eco-friendly competition, the government is also hoping that this year’s Palaro will contribute to the government’s goal of achieving peace in Mindanao.

“This year’s Palaro is held after the recent preliminary Bangsamoro peace agreement was sealed. We have given specific instructions to the teachers to give special attention to the athletes of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) because their concerns were included in the Palaro,” Luistro said.

Through Palaro, Muslims and non-Muslims, can work together, said Lusitro.  “We are hoping that sports will lead us through achieving peace in Mindanao,” said Luistro.

Luistro said President Benigno Aquino would have wanted to attend the opening but time constraints prevented him from doing so.

CASH INCENTIVES

Meanwhile, for the first time in the history of the annual multi-sporting event, cash incentives will be given to the medal finishers, thanks to seven corporate sponsors.

“The government got sponsorship packages and so this will be the first time that prizes will be given to the medal finishers from both team and individual events.”  The cash incentives could boost the athletes’ morale but Luistro stressed Palaro should not be all about winning.

DepEd is confident of a successful staging of this year’s Palaro despite the unfortunate incident that befell the athletes of Region 8.  At least 150 athletes from the region were rushed to the provincial hospital last Thursday after they fell ill in what was suspected to be a food poisoning case.

Luistro said at least 11 athletes are still confined in the hospital but they are already recovering.

“The food and water that were served to them were subjected to a laboratory test. The test will come out after three days,” he said. The hospital expenses of the athletes were shouldered by provincial government.

Because of the incident, food handlers were urged to be more careful.

Luistro spearheaded yesterday’s opening ceremonies at the Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium. This year’s Palaro will feature three demonstrations sports namely, wushu, billiards and futsal (indoor football).

Winners in those sports will be given medals but the results will not be