CEBU CITY, – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to lead the opening ceremony of the country’s biggest sporting event for student athletes, the Palarong Pambansa 2024, on July 9 at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Thousands of athletes, accompanied by their coaches and officials from 19 delegations around the country, will compete in this year’s national sporting event with the theme “Beyond Sports.”
Officials of the Palarong Pambansa local organizing committee said they were ready for the opening ceremonies, which would showcase Cebu’s rich culture and hospitality.
“Cebu City is 100 percent ready for the 2024 Palarong Pambansa. We have been waiting for this moment, and now we are looking forward to the coming week of hosting this year’s Palarong Pambansa,” said John Pages, Cebu City Sports Commission chairperson, during a press conference on July 8.
According to the organizers, the 2024 Palarong Pambansa is about the journey of growth, creativity, and unity; it is an event that will inspire the youth to excel in their respective communities.
Around 10,000 student athletes from different elementary and secondary schools in the country will be competing in 34 sporting events from July 10 to 16, 2024.
This is the third time that Cebu City is hosting the inter-regional multi-sports competition after hosting the event in 1954 and 1994.
Steel Asia Plant inauguration
Meanwhile, on the same day, the President will also join local officials to lead the inauguration of the Steel Asia manufacturing plant in Corneria, Brgy. Poblacion, Compostela town.
The opening of the largest and most modern steel mill located in Compostela will provide a boost to the country’s steel industry, as it will increase the total production capacity of rebars to over 3 million tons.
The facility will have an annual production capacity of 1 million tons of rebar.
Once fully operational, the Compostela steel mill is expected to generate 500 direct jobs and 2,500 indirect jobs, which will positively impact the nation’s growing economy. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)