A total of 48 schools in Ilocos Norte are ready to host 15,000 coaches and athletes from 16 regions who will participate in the Palarong Pambansa tentatively in the last week of May.

These billeting areas are located in this city as well as in the city of Batac and in the nearby towns of Bacarra and Vintar, Helen Domingo, provincial sports coordinator of Ilocos Norte, told members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday.

This is the first time the province will host the biggest sporting event in the country for students.

“As to the playing venues, we are now 90 percent ready,” Domingo said, citing that the provincial government has allocated PHP25 million for the purchase of additional sports equipment, which can not be borrowed from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Aside from utilizing public facilities of the cities of Laoag and Batac and the municipalities of Vintar, private schools such as the Divine Word College of Laoag , Northwestern University, and the Northern Christian College were also tapped as part of competition venues of the different sporting events, she said.

Ilocos Norte has been preparing for Palaro since last year to ensure the smooth hosting of this big event.

Domingo said major facilities such as the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium underwent facilities upgrading while various committees were already formed to ensure that everything would be in place during the weeklong event.

To anticipate heavy traffic during the opening ceremony, the Ilocos Norte police along with other security forces prepared a traffic management plan.

In case of water shortage, Domingo said more deep wells were also established in areas likely to experience drought during summer.

“Let us exert our best effort to give the delegates excellent service during their stay in Ilocos Norte,” said Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos as she urged everyone to do their share in creating a good lasting memory for them. (PNA)