DAVAO CITY – At least 3,866 security forces will be deployed to ensure the safety of the delegates of the 62nd Palarong Pambansa (National Games), the country’s biggest local sporting event, from April 27 to May 4 in Davao City, according to Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay.
Sumagaysay said in an interview that the security plan had already been prepared weeks ahead of the Palarong Pambansa, an annual multi-sport event involving student-athletes from 17 regions of the Philippines, which would draw a crowd of around 20,000.
Sumagaysay expressed confidence that everything is all set for the city’s hosting of the Palaro, its first since 1950, as Davao took a year of preparation for the sporting event.
In 2015, the City of Tagum in Davao del Norte hosted the 58th edition of the national games.
“It’s ready for implementation. Everything has been set. All the security components are already aware of it,” he said.
He said the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 and the military’s 103rd Infantry Brigade would provide augmentation to strengthen the security set-up here during the Palaro.
He said they expect the bulk of the delegates to arrive days before the sporting event.
He added the local government would also install high definition CCTVs in all the playing venues at the 20-hectare world-class Davao City-University of the Philippines Sports Complex in the UP-Mindanao campus in Tugbok.
Sumagaysay added the security plan for the 26 billeting quarters and 32 playing venues has been laid out already. “We have assigned security in every billeting quarter and playing venues where security team leaders would be assigned,” he said.
He also assured delegates that the Davao City Central 911, City Health Office, and City Social Services and Development Office would be deployed to attend to their concerns. (Antonio Colina IV)
