After initially withdrawing from hosting the PSC-POC Philippine National Games, the City of Dumaguete and the Province of Negros Oriental have agreed to jointly host the games set on May 27-June 2.
Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria told the MetroPost that PSC Commissioner Jolly Gomez came to Dumaguete Tuesday to offer the hosting to the City one more time.
“I had a long talk with Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and Dumaguete City Mayor Chiquiting Sagarbarria last Tuesday in Dumaguete and cited the benefits that province and the city will reap in pushing through with the PNG,” Gomez, the event’s overall organizing committee chairman, told Manila journalists.
A Manila newspaper article quoted Gomez as saying that both Gov. Degamo and Mayor Sagarbarria were worried about the expense in hosting the event, “but I explained to them the PSC would shoulder most of the costs,” Gomez said. “This event will also have huge economic impact and a great morale boost for the people of Negros Oriental.”
Mayor Sagarbarria, meanwhile, said he agreed to host the PNG on condition that the Province of Negros Oriental co-host the games.
Most of the athletic facilities in Dumaguete City, such as the Lamberto Macias Sports & Cultural Center, the Gov. Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium, and the Lorenzo G. Teves Aqua Center, are owned by the province of Negros Oriental.
Sagarbarria also said he got the commitment of Silliman and Foundation Universities of their full cooperation in hosting the PNG.
Sagarbarria said he will talk with the other educational institutions and private groups to get their commitment to support the hosting of the PNG.
It was the second major disaster to hit the area less than two months after flash floods triggered by Typhoon “Sendong,” claimed numerous lives and destroyed millions of pesos in property in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental.
