Gov. Gwen Garcia and the tri-city mayors of Cebu have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) on Monday evening, May 27, marking a major step that will see Cebu hosting the country’s largest sports event, the Palarong Pambansa 2024, this July in unity.
Gov. Gwen signed the MOC with Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan at the Governor’s Office.
The historic pact was witnessed by Cebu City Councilors James Anthony Cuenco, Renato Osmeña Jr., and Jerry Guardo; Board Members Glenn Anthony Soco and Red Duterte; and DepEd 7 regional director Salustiano Jimenez.
At least 12,000 DepEd student-athletes from the 17 regions of the country, excluding their coaching and other support staff, will be coming to Cebu for the Palaro from July 9-16. While Cebu City is the main host, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City will help in providing billeting quarters for the delegations.
Moreover, the MOC also provides that activities relating to Palarong Pambansa will not be confined to the tri-cities as the City of Naga and Carcar City in the south shall also host some games, which are yet undetermined as of this writing.
Among other things, the LGUs agreed to contribute in various ways to the success of the sporting event by means of financial aid and the deployment of additional human resource or security assistance.
They have also committed to ensure that participants and delegates of the Palaro within their areas of jurisdictions will have sufficient basic provisions for a more satisfying experience in Cebu.
They shall also implement measures to promote and enhance sports tourism among their constituents within their respective territorial jurisdictions, and create evaluation and monitoring schemes to ensure that the goals aimed at a better, brighter, and more united Cebu Island through sports tourism are achieved and sustained.
The Provincial Government and the mayors of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu earlier agreed to give their full support to Cebu City to ensure its success.
A major part of the goal is to push for sports tourism through this collaborative hosting by not only holding sports activities but promoting Cebu’s tourism jewels as well, showcasing the hospitality of the Cebuanos which will ultimately redound to the benefit of the entire Cebu in terms of economic progress and a promotion of a sense of unity. | Carlo Lorenciana