• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Cebu City prevailed over Negros Occidental and Antique in the battle to host the 2024 Palarong Pambansa.
The announcement was made by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte during the end of school-based sports event, which was held at the Marikina Sports Center, on August 5.
It will be the third time in history that Cebu City will host premier sports event of student athletes from elementary and secondary levels of 18 regions of the country. It also hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1954 and 1994.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson congratulated Cebu City for winning the bidding.
Asked if the provincial government will bid again, Lacson said Visayas will have a chance in 2028.
“That will be an election year, and a new governor will be installed,” he added.
The hosting rights of the biggest scholastic sports gathering annually follow a Luzon-Visayas-Luzon-Mindanao rotation principle, with Ilocos Norte securing the 2025 staging, as officially announced by the Department of Education during the Palarong Pambansa closing ceremony at the Marikina Sports Complex.
The National Capital Region ruled the 2023 Palarong Pambansa, with Western Visayas trailing closely behind.
Official results released by the Department of Education showed the National Capital Region garnered a total of 85 golds, 74 silvers, and 55 bronzes to come out as overall champion.
Western Visayas grabbed 60 golds, 45 silvers, and 44 bronzes to take 2nd place, while Southern Tagalog got 52 golds, 52 silvers, and 57 bronze.
NCR also both the elementary and secondary levels.
Region 6 topped the Demo Sports with 13 gold, 8 silvers, and 2 bronze medals, as well as ruling the Para Games with 27 golds, 13 silvers, and 6 bronze medals.*
