By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will personally be presenting the province’s bid to host the Palarong Pambansa 2024 at the Department of Education (DepEd) central office in Manila, this morning.

Lacson said Negros Occidental is a sports-loving province.

“We will tell them about the food, the area. I’ll tell them that it will not all be sports, especially in Panaad,” he said.

“We will have some festive mood because I will ask the local government units to open their pavilions,” he added.

Lacson said he wants to project Negros Occidental as one of the country’s top sports destinations.

According to Lacson, he will be accompanied by provincial sports coordinator Tony Agustin for the presentation.

Cebu and Antique provinces also bid to host the 2024 national games.

Last month, a technical inspection team from DepEd and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) inspected the Panaad Park and Stadium in Negros Occidental.

The DepEd and PSC team also visited several other possible sporting venues in Bacolod City, Talisay City and Murcia town.

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