DAVAO CITY, April 8, 2019 – The Department of Education (DepEd) and the City Government of Davao officially signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the hosting of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa at the Davao City Hall today.

The MOA, which specifies the duties and responsibilities of the Department and the City Government, was inked by DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Anchored on the theme “Shaping the Future Through Sports,” the 2019 Palarong Pambansa is set from April 27 to May 4. Davao City will host this year’s sporting event, in cooperation with DepEd Region XI and the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Davao City.

Under the agreement, some of the duties and responsibilities of DepEd include: coordination with Davao City for the necessary security provisions and measures, transportation and communications provisions, and other requirements for the event including the playing venues and billeting quarters for the regional delegations and national technical officials; receiving of donations from any third party that shall include, but not be limited to, services, equipment, and financial assistance that will support the operation or that will be utilized for the event, subject to the existing laws, rules and regulations, and properly communicated to Davao City prior to finalizations; and conducting technical inspection and monitoring the readiness of the sports facilities and billeting quarters in coordination with the City host.

The Department shall likewise supply the standard technical equipment, materials, and supplies needed for the different sports events according to the specifications prescribed by the Palaro Technical Management and Games Administration Committee (TMGAC), subject to some exceptions; give uniforms for the technical officials and members of the technical management and administration committee who will manage the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa; and provide technical and funding assistance in the preparation, repair, and rehabilitation of billeting schools for the event.

Correspondingly, Davao City is tasked to create and convene the Local Palaro Executive Committee (LPEC) and Secretariat, as well as other working committees that may be necessary for the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa; facilitate the sourcing of funds for the necessary expenses for the event, specifically those for construction and renovation of sports facilities, billeting quarters, and other infrastructural requirements of the Palaro host; and ensure accessibility to public transportation and communication in all playing venues and billeting quarters in coordination with the proper national government agency, if necessary.

In addition, Davao City shall also guarantee that all roads leading to all billeting quarters and playing venues are well maintained, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); provide roving and on-call medical/first aid personnel for the duration of the Palaro; and provide round-the-clock Philippine National Police (PNP)/Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) and force multipliers to ensure peace, order, and security of all billeting areas, playing venues, and establishments frequented by delegations.

In a press conference last year where DepEd announced the host for the 2019 Palarong Pambansa, Briones shared: “The three bidders were extremely competitive—Davao City, Zamboanga Del Sur, and Misamis Occidental—knowing that each really prepared, but we have to consider the security aspect, billeting quarters, and readiness of the local government, and one edged out the two, leading to a unanimous vote of the Board for Davao City.”

What’s new?
The country’s premier national sporting event will introduce two side events this year—Larong Pinoy and the Sports Heroes Day.

Larong Pinoy, also known as the Philippine Indigenous Games, aims to strengthen and revive the traditional Pinoy games such as kadang-kadang, patintero, hilahang lubid, and karera ng sako, and will be played by DepEd Executive Committee members, DepEd Sports Officials, local government unit (LGU) representatives, and sports icons.

The Sports Heroes Day, on the other hand, is an important opportunity for young athletes to personally interact with their sports idols and icons.

DepEd Region XI will manage Larong Pinoy, while DepEd-Youth Formation Division and SDO Davao City are in charge of the Sports Heroes Day. Both events will be conducted on April 28.

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