Palarong Pambansa organizers have purchased at least P16-million worth of brand new sports equipment which will be used by the delegates when the event begins on April 27 in Tacloban City.

Len Toledo, head of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Task Force on School Sports, said the equipment will be at par with the ones used in the recent Beijing Olympics.

“Ang gusto ni Secretary [Jesli Lapus of the DepEd] na kung ano ang ginamit sa Beijing (Olympics) ay iyon din ang gagamitin natin whenever available,” said Toledo during this week’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s UN Branch.

The newly-purchased sport equipment includes gymnastics mats, shot puts, tennis nets, flaglettes, basketballs and volleyballs.

“Kasama na rin d’yan ang uniforms ng technical officials. Bumili rin kami ng mattresses para sa mga delegation,” added Toledo.

Toledo said they wanted to make sure that the Palaro athletes will compete using the best equipment available.

The province of Leyte will host the 2009 Palarong Pambansa where at least 6,000 athletes are expected to participate this year.

Neil Baronda, Leyte provincial sports director, said everything is already in place at the Leyte Sports Development Center, the main venue for the Palarong.

Other Palaro concerns

The Tacloban Health Office began fogging operations at areas in the city where delegates will be billeted to make sure that participants will not contract dengue.

The health office gave priority to three different schools in response to a report concerning three athletes diagnosed with symptoms of dengue.

“Although it is not confirmed yet on whether it is dengue, we have to act immediately to prevent the feared infectious disease. We have to protect all the athletes,” said Dr. Jaime Opinion, City Health Officer.

For its part, the Leyte Electric Cooperative II (LEYECO) has already fixed all electric lines at the main venue.

The utility firm also checked lines in all schools occupied by sports delegates, to avert overloading.

Meters were also put up to monitor electric usage, as the Leyte Cooperative expects a surge during the event.

Ma.Rosario Avestrus, ISD Manager of LEYECO II, said their 24-hour hotline numbers are posted at the venues for prompt action by a special crew should there be brownouts. With reports from Ranulfo Docdocan and Jenette Fariola-Ruedas, ABS-CBN Tacloban