Delegates touch down in Agusan del Sur as Palaro nears

Following an expected number of 20,000 athletes, coaches, and officials for the upcoming national meet, over 10,000 delegates across the map had arrived in Agusan del Sur for the 66th Palarong Pambansa, set to commence on May 24.

In a situation report, the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Health, Safety, and Welfare Committee recorded 10,697 delegate arrivals for the Palaro 2026 as of May 19, 6:00 a.m.

The largest delegations came from Region X with 981 delegates, Region VI with 932, Region XII with 905, Region VII with 861, CAR with 844, the Negros Island Region (NIR) with 803, Caraga with 793, BARMM with 763, and Region VIII with 649 representatives.

“To the parents and guardians of the athletes, do not worry. We are well taken care of here by the host. As your officials, we will also be taking good care of the children,” said Edgar Madlaing, sports regional coordinator of DepEd.

Each contingent was served two roasted pigs at the welcome dinner, an equal share of beef, and 10 sacks of rice, according to provincial tourism officer Dannah Rufalyn Buquir in a report from Inquirer.net.

Alongside the meal, delegates also received Mandaue foam bedding and personalized kits to guarantee their hygiene and comfort throughout their stay.

While safety measures have been overseen by the Police Regional Office-13 Director, Police Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano P. Magistrado IV, ensuring that the games in the region would be safe and orderly.

The Department of Health in Caraga also guaranteed that they would be steadfast in aiding health concerns during the competition amid the extreme heat.

With reports from Manila Bulletin, Inquirer.net, Philippine News Agency, BARMM Official Website