WORK is still going on to fix the condition of the newly renovated rubberized track oval at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC), with just three days to go before competitions begin in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City.
Organizers said two lanes still need to undergo a makeover with visible signs of damage seen on the turf near the finish line.
Department of Education assistant secretary Francis Cesar Bringas talked about the shape that the track oval is currently in on Monday afternoon with Cebu Sports Commission chairman John Pages during a live-streamed presser.
“We have already coordinated with a technical consultant in track and field and he is in communication with the contractors for the necessary intervention. So, it will be ready by July 11,” said Bringas during the online discussion that was streamed on Facebook Live.
Concerns were brought up on the situation at the oval, with the detachment of the rubber from its base, a bumpy surface and the presence of water trapped inside the rubber base.
Bringas said attention is focused on the surface of the first and sixth lanes, which is close to finish line of the 400-meter track.
CCSC was closed for renovation in May 2023 and completions of the repairs are being rushed at the moment.
Despite the situation surrounding the condition of the oval, Pages said organizers are excited over their hosting of the Palaro.
Officials talked about Cebu’s hosting, a day before Philippine President Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. attends the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9 (Tuesday).
Also coming is outgoing Department of Education secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has been replaced by Senator Sonny Angara.
Other VIPs in attendance are Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, and suspended Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama.
The last time Cebu City hosted the country’s largest sports spectacle was in 1994.
“We are very excited. It’s been a long time since Cebu City hosted the Palaro. And I believe our journey began three years ago, when we hosted a ‘bubble’ Palaro,” said Pages.
The National Capital Region will once again seek to retain the overall title as action starts on Wednesday
Athletes from Metro Manila dominated the annual scholastic sports meet organized by the Department of Education when it was hosted by Marikina last year.
NCR collected a total of 85 golds, 74 silvers and 55 bronze medals to keep the general championship for a 16th straight time.
The last time around, gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo emerged at the winningest athlete in the secondary boys’ division with seven gold medals in this event also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Senate Committee on Sports.
Swimmers from NCR, led by Ysabela de los Santos, hauled in six gold medals.
Western Visayas Region (region VI) and Southern Tagalog Region, under the Region III STCAA banner, were in second and third last year. Their athletes are also expected to seek precious medals at stake.
So far, delegates from the participating regions are starting to arrive in Cebu, estimated to number around 2,000, out of the expected 12,000.
