2024 Palarong Pambansa: DepEd pledges support to young Filipino athletes

To ensure the intensive preparation for the 2024 Palarong Pambansa, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) - Cebu City formally forged their partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

“We affirm our unwavering dedication to strengthening our support for young athletes,” said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte during the signing on Feb. 2. 
“Our primary goal is to equip them with the necessary tools to nurture discipline, resilience, and the indomitable spirit required to pursue their athletic passions,” she added.

Cebu as the host city

Meanwhile, Duterte thanked the government of Cebu for hosting the sporting event. “The unique character and vaunted hospitality of Cebu City will make this year’s Palaro even more memorable for all our student-athletes,” she said.

Through the signing of the MOA, DepEd formally recognized the hosting of Cebu City, which was spearheaded by Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama.

Under the agreement, DepEd, in coordination with Cebu City, will ensure security provisions and measures, transportation, and communications provision, and other requirements for the event.

Cebu City, on the other hand, is tasked to create and convene the Local Palaro Executive Committee (LPEC) and Secretariat and 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.

DepEd said Cebu will host its annual national amateur sports event for the third time in history after staging the Palaro twice in 1954 and 1994.

“We’ve been waiting for 30 years for this moment. In fact, the Cebu City Sports Center was built 30 years ago, specific to the hosting of Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City,” Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman John Pages.

He also expressed the readiness of the city and sporting venues to be “completed soon.”