Palace chips in P49M for Palarong Pambansa

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has released P49 million to augment the funds for the Palarong Pambansa to be staged in Palawan, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said in a statement released on Monday. The annual summer in-school multi-event sports competition will be held from April 20 to 27 at the newly-refurbished Ramon V. Mitra Jr. (RVMJ) Sports Complex in Barangay Sta. Monica in Puerto Princesa. Hagedorn announced the release of the funds earlier on Sunday at the opening ceremonies for the 2008 MIMAROPA Regional Meet, which was also held at RVMJ Sports Complex. "I am really very thankful to our beloved President Macapagal-Arroyo for her support," Hagedorn said. "We really need her backing and she never failed us. So, we will not fail her also." Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes also chipped in P3 million The Philippine Amusement and Games Corp. (Pagcor) also chipped in P5 million and the Department of Education P2 million. "Many, including the President, are really very supportive in our effort to make Puerto Princesa not only a haven for eco-tourism but also the sports tourism capital in the country," Hagedorn said. The host city spent P60 million to build new facilities and refurbish the 16-hectare RVMJ complex, the main venue for the event. The Palarong Pambansa was held last in Palawan in 1958. Expected to arrive in Puerto Princesa are some 17,000 guests, officials, and athletes. The overall champ at last year's Palarong Pambansa, staged in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, was the National Capital Region (NCR). This year athletes will vie for supremacy in 14 sports, including athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak-takraw, softball, swimming, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, and volleyball. - GMANews.TV