Dapitan ready to host 2011 Palaro

Former Zamboanga Del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos gave the assurance that Dapitan City will be ready to host the 2011 Palarong Pambansa, a month before the staging of the event on May 8 to 14. Jalosjos, the Palaro executive committee chairman, said the organizing committee has set April 8 as their target date for all renovation in the venues to be finished. “I’m confident that we will meet the deadline. All of the big venues will be operational by that time. We are ready to receive them in Dapitan," said Jalosjos in Friday’s SCOOP forum. The athletics and swimming competitions of this year’s Palarong Pambansa will be held at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University, where thousands of elementary and high school students will be competing. Just in case some of the venues will not be available, Jalosjos said that Zamboanga City and Dipolog City are ready to become alternate venues to host the track and field and swimming events, respectively. “But the way I see it, we don’t need alternate venues, as both are on schedule," Jalosjos said. Len Toledo, the consultant of the organizing committee, said that the rubber of the track oval is being installed, while the Olympic-size swimming pool is still undergoing some renovation. Toledo said that Dapitan has been experiencing rainy weather of late but is confident that the venues will be completed before the target date. “The engineers are optimistic that they can complete the work before April 8," said Toledo in the same forum. Jalosjos said that they have already spent P300 million for the Palaro, with some local government units in Zamboanga also contributing to the funds. Jalosjos also said that the Palaro delegates will be well taken care of. “We will ensure that there will be enough food for the delegates and we will also be rerouting the traffic around the area. We will also provide buses for the delegates," said Jalosjos. Due to the hot conditions during summer, Toledo is also looking at the possibility of not holding the games between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, just like in last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac. “We are open to this option," Toledo said. Renaissance of Rizal This year’s Palarong Pambansa will be held in Dapitan City, where national hero Jose P. Rizal spent the last few years of his life when he was in exile. So it’s quite fitting that in his 150th birth year, Palarong Pambansa organizers are looking at reliving Rizal’s contributions through sports. “We want to bring Rizal’s ideals to youth and sports," said Jalosjos. Jalosjos said that they are launching a program called “Renaissance of Rizal" during the Palaro, where Rizal’s qualities will be recalled during the week-long sportsfest with elementary and high school students participating. “We are using the occasion to bring back memories of Dr. Jose Rizal. We want to re-enshrine Dr. Rizal in his rightful place in the consciousness of the youth today," Jalosjos said. Live streaming at Palaro? Organizers are also looking at the possibility of broadcasting at least the athletics and swimming finals through live video streaming on the internet. Toledo said that negotiations are still ongoing for possible live streaming of the centerpiece events. “Congressman Jalosjos is trying his best to go on with it. If we are capable of doing the live streaming, we will do it," Toledo said. Toledo said that results will still be available online at the Department of Education website. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMA News