Siniguro ni Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario na hindi isyu ang seguridad sa gaganaping 2015 Palarong Pambansa sa Mayo 3-9.
Sa ginanap na lagdaan kamakailan sa Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) sa pagitan ng probinsiya at Department of Education (DepEd), isinantabi ni Del Rosario ang pangamba kung ang sitwasyon ng kapayapaan ang pag-uusapan, matapos ang naging problema na nanagap sa Mindanao region.
“Unlike the public perception, our region is generally peaceful because we are located in a metropolitan area,” pagmamalaki nito. “Besides, we will have 1,500 military and police personnel looking after the peace and safety of our Palaro athletes and officials.”
Ipinamalas din ni DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro ang kanyang kumpiyansa pagdating sa security plan ng probinsiya.
“Sometimes Manila media has to be more precise where the disturbances occur and not generalize,” pahayag nito.
Tumuon ang atensiyon sa kapuluan kamakailan sa direksiyon ng Mindanao matapos na 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) ang nasawi sa naganap na encounter sa pagitan ng Moro National Liberation OredoFront (MILF) at Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) sa Maguindanao noong nakaraang Enero 26.
Sadyang pinili ng probinsiya ang slogan na, “Sports: Breaking Borders, Building Peace”.
Binigyang-pugay din ni Luistro ang kahandaan ng probinsiya sa termino ng playing venues at billeting sites.
“In my knowledge, in the past Palaro, not a single one of those who hosted had the facilities ready by the time we inspected it,” saad ni Luistro. ”I could sleep very well with the fact that the team that went around assured me that all the major facilities are already in place. And if we held the Palaro tomorrow, at least facilities-wise, they are ready.”
Ilan sa major sports sa Palaro ay kinabibilangan ng archery, arnis, aquatics (swimming), athletics, badminton, baseball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis at volleyball.
Ito ang unang pagkakataon na magiging punong-abala ang Davao del Norte sa prestihiyosong sports meet.
“We have been attempting to host it for 65 years,” giit ni Del Rosario.
