By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental provincial government is continuing preparations as the province participates in the ongoing bid to host the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson revealed that a technical inspection team from the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) arrived in the province on Sunday, June 25.

The team visited the Panaad Park and Stadium, where they inspected the track and field oval, softball diamond field, and the swimming pool.

It can be recalled that the swimming pool at Panaad Park is currently undergoing refurbishment and is targeted for completion between late 2023 and early 2024.

The renovation works at the Panaad Park cost around P150 million, with the track and field alone costing P50 million.

Lacson also revealed that an additional gymnasium is being constructed at the Panaad Park and Stadium with the targeted completion before the scheduled games.

The DepEd and PSC team also visited several other possible sporting venues located in capital Bacolod City, and Negros Occidental’s Talisay City and Murcia town.

The inspection team will stay in the province until today only, June 28, after which they will proceed to Antique province, which is also bidding to host the 2024 games.

Also bidding to host the games is Cebu province.

Negros Occidental was supposed to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2021, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The province hosted the Palaro in 1971, 1974, 1979, 1998, and 2000./DGB, WDJ