Ilocos Norte is gearing up to welcome 15,000 athletes and coaches from across 16 regions for the Palarong Pambansa 2025, scheduled for the last week of May. The province has confirmed that 48 schools are prepared to serve as billeting quarters for the participants, spread across Laoag City, Batac City, and the towns of Bacarra and Vintar. This marks the first time Ilocos Norte will host this prestigious national student sports event.
Helen Domingo, the provincial sports coordinator, updated the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday about the readiness of the province. She reported that the playing venues are 90% prepared, with the provincial government investing PHP25 million in new sports equipment, as borrowing from the Philippine Sports Commission was not an option.
The event will utilize both public and private facilities. In addition to the public venues in Laoag and Batac, and the municipalities of Vintar, private institutions like Divine Word College of Laoag, Northwestern University, and Northern Christian College will also host various sporting events.
Preparations for the Palaro began last year, with significant upgrades to major facilities like the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium. Various committees have been established to ensure a seamless event. The Ilocos Norte police, along with other security forces, have devised a traffic management plan to handle the expected congestion during the opening ceremony.
To mitigate potential water shortages, additional deep wells have been set up in areas prone to drought during the summer months. Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos encouraged everyone involved to provide exceptional service to the delegates, aiming to leave them with memorable experiences of their stay in Ilocos Norte.