Albay Eyes Hosting Events For 2019 Sea Games

Over-all, it was a successful and impressive hosting of the Palarong Pambansa even branded as “best ever” by national athletic associations in the country.

And this time, the province of Albay is raising its bar to set the stage for another sporting event branded as the second biggest sports event in the world – the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Albay governor Joey Salceda said the province is very much ready for bigger sports event with the new and modern facilities and the expertise in establishing and running orderly and systematic joint operation and incident commands which greatly contributed to the successful hosting of the Palaro.

“We only need a few more additional facilities to be able to have better hosting of a bigger sports activity, like facilities for indoor games and additional air-conditioning units for the existing facilities,” Salceda said.

The governor furthered that in terms of accommodation, the resiliency of the Albayanos has enabled them to handle and take care of a number of guests as they learned to face the hurdles brought by various calamities like strong typhoons and Mayon volcano eruptions with not less than 50,000 individuals being taken cared of for even a span of three months.

Security plan during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in the country can likewise be replicated.

Salceda said DepEd Secretary Armin Lusitro has agreed that Manila and Albay could be co-hosts for the SEA games with Albay to host two or three sports disciplines including swimming and athletics.

The Philippines got the hosting rights for the 2019 SEA Games after Brunei backed out days before the 2015 SEA games due to “financial and logistical reasons.”

The country last hosted the Games in 2005 where the Philippines emerged as the overall champion. Cebu City has also expressed willingness as satellite venue for some sports events in the SEA Games.

The capability of the province to prepare for bigger events has likewise impressed national Palaro officials and organizers.

Salceda, who got emotional during the closing program, said Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro cited the Palaro in Albay as a miracle further noting the relentless workforce of the provincial government to make the Albay Palarong Pambansa 2016 the best it could ever be.

“Tears of endearment…could be about Brother Armin calling Palaro in Albay a miracle, about proving skeptics wrong, about making it despite the constraints while our means are modest, about the thousands who must be thanked for helping make it happen, about the 1.4m persons whose self-esteem we have lifted, about seeing our 18,000 athletes coaches and staff go yet together we are richer with lessons and triumphs, happy memories and new friends, about the next moon Albay has to conquer,” the governor said.

DepEd Asec. Atty. Tonisito Umali likewise commended the readiness and preparations done by the province, in a limited span of time, to comply with the requirements set in hosting the said event.

“The grand and unique opening ceremony was very impressive specially the sporting venues and billeting areas I personally visited and inspected. The province of Albay has indeed proven their capability to comply with the requirements set for hosting the Palaro in a limited span of time. It’s really impressive,” Umali said.(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)