MANILA, Philippines – It’s Marikina City’s turn to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2020.

This was confirmed Monday, 23 December 2019 through an official memorandum released by the Department of Education after original host Occidental Mindoro allegedly begged off from holding country’s biggest local sports event.

The unnumbered memorandum came from the office of DepEd Undersecretary Atty. Revsee Escobedo, who also serves as Palarong Pambansa Secretary-General, saying Marikina City will now serve as the events’ host in place of the original host Occidental Mindoro.

“It is unlikely that the 2020 Palarong Pambansa will continue to be held in Occidental Mindoro, due to the damage left by Typhoon “Tisoy” in November,” Escobedo said.

In modern times, this will be the first time for Marikina City to play host of the Palarong Pambansa and the fifth time the National Games are to be held in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The Palarong Pambansa is a yearly multi-sport event involving student-athletes from the different regions of the Philippines.

Occidental Mindoro was originally chosen to host the 2020 Palarong Pambansa, but local government officials begged off due to severe damage typhoon Tisoy dealt on some important sporting venues.

It could also have been the first time for the province of Occidental Mindoro to host a Palaro.

Escobedo tasked the Division of Marikina City to submit a list of possible sporting venues and billeting areas for the delegates.

Marikina last hosted the Palaro way back 1980 edition, with the National Games then known as the Palarong Bagong Lipunan. (LO/IAMIGO/CNS)