MANILA, (March 6) --- The province of Leyte is eyeing the Palarong Pambansa (National Games), set in Tacloban City in April, as an avenue to jumpstart again its sports development program.

This is the second time that Tacloban City will host the Palaro. The first was in 1983.

“This is one big reason why the Province of Leyte, headed by Gov. Jericho Petilla, submitted its bid for the Palaro. It gives the province the reason to refurbish our sports facility which can be used by athletes not only from Leyte but also from Eastern Visayas," said Leyte Provincial Administrator Vince Emnas.

Emnas attended Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan Forum in Padre Faura along with Department of Education Task Force on School Sports national coordinator Len Toledo with the Leyte official assuring everyone that everything is in place for the hosting slated from April 27 to May 3.

Emnas added that President Gloria Arroyo has accepted the invitation to attend the opening ceremony, which was rescheduled from April 27 to April 28.

Competition, however, begins on April 27 with athletics and swimming taking place at the newly-refurbished Leyte Development Sports Center, which cost P75 million to renovate.

“It’s the same venue used in 1983. But this time, we now have a rubberized oval and a modern swimming pool We also expect to cough up some P10 to P15 million for the actual hosting but we’re willing to spend because we believe this is a step we have to take for us to have a strong sports development program," said Emnas.

Some 10,000 athletes and officials are expected to troop for this year’s Palaro with 13 a combined 30 sports discipline to be disputed in the elementary (13) and secondary divisions (17).

Boxing has been added in the elementary boys play where divisions at stake are in the ant weight (32 kilograms) and kiddie weight (30 kilograms).

As usual, champions in both divisions will be determined using the point system.