Gov. Joel Reyes clarified that it is the Department of Education (DepEd), not the Provincial Government, which chooses the host municipality for the Provincial Meet.

“It is the DepEd which holds bidding between the municipalities. If a municipality bid, DepEd would send a committee to assess the capacity of the municipality in hosting the activity,” Reyes said in an interview during the opening ceremony of the Provincial Meet 2008 in Brooke’s Point Nov. 16.

According to him, all the municipalities were given the chance to host the annual sports event. He added that not only Narra in southern Palawan or Coron in the north were the choices for the activity’s venue.

“We’re not monopolizing it. The municipalities were given equal chance to host the Provincial Meet so they can showcase their towns,” Reyes explained.

Brooke’s Point hosted this year’s event; 16 years after hosting the same activity in 1992.

Mayor Cesareo Benedito related that he immediately accepted the offer to host the Provincial Meet although the municipality’s sports complex was not yet completed.

One of the top bidders for the 2009 activity is Roxas. Reyes, however, disclosed that the municipality has no sports complex yet, but added that the Provincial Government has a commitment with those who want to host the Provincial Meet.

Around 3, 000 athletes from 22 municipalities participated in this year’s event. Local officials from northern and southern Palawan and officials of the Provincial Government were also present during the Provincial Meet 2008 opening.