The City of Dumaguete is preparing to host the 12th Association of SouthEast Asian Nations School Games scheduled for November.
DepEd OIC-Undersecretary Atty. Revsee Escobedo, who visited Dumaguete last week, said the Department of Education chose Dumaguete City, in partnership the provincial Government of Negros Oriental, as the ideal host of the ASEAN Schools Games.
Escobedo said Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental was nearly the unanimous choice of DepEd officials when they learned that the Philippines will host the ASEAN Schools Games.
He cited the efficient and long experience of Dumaguete City in successfully hosting national sports events like the Palarong Pambansa, National University Games, Little League Philippines and Batang Pinoy.
“The readiness and proximity of the playing venues, the total support of the local officials led by Gov. Roel Degamo and Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, the efficiency and capability of the working committees, world class tourist destinations, good hotels and the hospitality of the people make Dumaguete City the best host for the games,” Escobedo said.
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This also strengthens the Mayor’s thrust to make the city one of the prime sports tourism destinations in the Visayas Region and of country.
For two straight years in 2017 and 2018, Dumaguete was awarded as the Best Sports Tourism Organizer of the Year and Runner-up as Sports Tourism Destination of the Year next to Subic Bay Freeport in 2017 by the Philippine Sports Tourism Forum.
The 12th ASEAN Schools Games adopts the theme: Inspire, Play and Experience which, according to USec. Escobedo, would prove Dumaguete capable of hosting one of the most memorable in the game’s history.
Both the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Education will look for means in order to upgrade or build the sports facilities for athletics, swimming, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, archery and sepak takraw since it is an international commitment of the Philippines as country to make sure that the games will be successful.
Escobedo estimates some 3,000 foreign and Filipino athletes and more with the expected arrival of their supporters and the ministers of Sports and Education of the 10 member ASEAN countries. (Dems Demecillo)
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