Bicol aims for 20 gold medals at 2024 Palarong Pambansa

LEGAZPI CITY – Some 749 athletes, coaches, and other delegates from the Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol Region are now ready for the 2024 Palarong Pambansa to be hosted by Cebu City from July 9 to 16.

In a press conference here, DepEd Bicol Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said they are determined to take home at least 20 gold medals and targeting the fifth overall rank in this year's games.

"We really have that target; Region 5 is number 5. Hindi muna kami doon sa top 3, National Capital Region (NCR), Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon), Western Visayas and Mindanao areas. At least number 5 magandang target na, good start again. Noon (2019) sa Davao, nag target kami ranked 10, but we were able to reach rank 7 (not in the top 3, National Capital Region (NCR), Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon), Western Visayas and Mindanao areas. At least number 5 is a good target, good start again. Back then (2019) in Davao, we targeted rank 10, but we were able to reach rank 7)," he said.

"We excel in track and field and athletics; we have two gold medalists from Masbate who participated in the Asian games in Vietnam and won gold medals; they are part of our delegations. We also excel in Arnis, taekwondo, and boxing; they are all contact sports. We target to have at least 20 gold medals," Sadsad noted.

He said that for this year's Palarong Pambansa, DepEd-Bicol downloaded more than P10 million in funds for the food, uniforms, and other expenses.

He also said that they allocated a P1.5 million fund as cash incentives for athletes who will be bringing home medals.

As of this writing, Bicol's delegates were in Masbate province on their way to Cebu. (PNA)