By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur—The province of Agusan del Sur has submitted a bid to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2026, showcasing its world-class DO Plaza Memorial Sports Complex, which was completed last year.
Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., Representative Alfelito Bascug of the province’s 1st District, and Maria Ines Asuncion, Caraga Regional Director of the Department of Education (DepED), represented Agusan del Sur during the presentation of bids for the Palarong Pambansa conducted by the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City on March 8.
In an online private message interview, Cane said he still keeping his fingers crossed if Agusan del Sur can win the bid but if it will happen, aside from available hotels, all the public schools of the towns near the venue will be used to accommodate the 12,000 athletes and delegation.
The Palarong Pambansa Board will select the province to host the event in 2026. Alongside Agusan del Sur, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga City have also submitted bids.
The highlight of the DO Plaza Memorial Sports Complex is its 3,000-seat grandstand, rubberized track, football field with artificial grass, Olympic-sized swimming pool, air-conditioned courts for volleyball and basketball, and other amenities.
The province is set to host the Caraga Regional Athletic Meet from May 5-11 this year. Additional facilities include a 24-room hotel located within the main grandstand and a tennis court.
According to Linda Buquir, the provincial engineer, the rehabilitation project incurred a total cost of P713 million for Phase 1 and Phase 2, which were implemented by three private contractors since June 2018. Construction faced slight delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Cane expressed confidence that the sports complex could accommodate international events if it receives high ratings from independent evaluators.
Construction of the sports complex was initially completed in 1994 during the tenure of the late Democrito O. Plaza, father of Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza of the province’s 1st District , who was then the province’s governor. Plans for its upgrade were shelved following the province’s unsuccessful bid to host the Palarong Pambansa, a national sports event for schools.
Plaza, then long-time governor, pursued to complete the dream project of his late father in 2018 by enhancing the facilities into world-class standard.
