During the city government’s regular radio programs, “Koronadal Boom…Boom…Boom” and “Kanami Koronadal,” Mayor Miguel confirmed that during his visit to the 2012 Palarong Pambansa in Lingayen, Pangasinan, he submitted a letter of intent to host the 2015 Palarong Pambansa to the Department of Education.
He said, the city needs an ambitious activity like this as a way of promoting the City of Koronadal itself and the province of South Cotabato as a whole.
The event, he reasoned , would be very timely to inform people from all walks of life to know that the city, the capital of the province of South Cotabato, is one of the happiest and most peaceful places in Mindanao.
Especially now that it has become the seat of Region XII, the city is positively fast progressing as well as expected, the local chief executive added.
Miguel believes that the city has the capacity to host such a big event owing to the success of two Palaro held here
South Cotabato, specifically, Koronadal City, hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 1996 during the administration of Gov. Hilario de Pedro III and in 2007 under the leadership of Mayor Fernando Miguel.
Mayor Peter Miguel, son of the former mayor, also expressed confidence that with the support and coordination with the provincial government of South Cotabato, the 2015 Palarong Pambansa here would prove even better than the previous ones given the chance to prepare this early.
Miguel was in Lingayen, Pangasinan during 2012 Palarong Pambansa to show his personal support and to give financial assistance to the athletes and coaches coming from the City of Koronadal and to personally hand in his letter of intent.
While in Pangasinan, the city mayor also handed a total of P800,000 allowances to the city’s 59 athletes as well as their coaches.
City schools division sports supervisor Napoleon Cumicho confirmed receipt of said amount upon the arrival of Mayor Peter B. Miguel at Lingayen, Pangasinan on May 8.
Each athlete and coach received P10,000 aid from the city government.
Besides turning over the financial assistance to the city’s athletes, Mayor Miguel said, he also wanted to show his personal support.
From Pangasinan, the mayor proceeded to Metro Manila to follow-up the scholarship grants from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) intended for Koronadal City.
Gov. Pingoy, who authored the house bill that sought for the declaration of arnis as the national sport while he was still a congressman, has been vocal about his desire to host for the third time the national games.
During the CRAA meet here in March, he said, the upgrading and improvements implemented at South Cotabato Sport Complex are intended towards this purpose.
The governor said, hosting the Palaro here would propel local economy and boost the province’s advocacy to be known as a major tourist destination in this part of the country. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12/Bic Manato-CIO Koronadal)
