PARENTS of athletes and those who came to Dapitan City for this year’s Palarong Pambansa were up in arms and disappointed after learning that they have to pay to watch the games in elementary and secondary levels.

The parents who came from Region VI blasted the Department of Education (DepEd), claiming that in the 63- years history of Palaro this was the first time that the annual athletic event was charging entrance fees.

They said they were charge P100 to watch last Sunday’s grand opening of Palarong Pambansa.

They claimed that many failed to watch the opening and expressed doubt if they would witness the succeeding  games in the week long event after learning they would have to pay P50 entrance fee per day.

The parents also questioned why they would be charge P200 during the  closing ceremony on May 14 just because singer Sarah Geronimo would be the guest performer.

The parents who watched the opening said they were given receipt but only  a card -like ticket as proof that they paid P100 as entrance fee.

A yellow art paper at the entrance gate of Jose Rizal State University, the main venue, indicated the entrance fees.

Sunday’s entrance fee was pegged at P100, P50 per day for the succeeding five days and P200 on the closing ceremony. A packaged rate of P500 or a discount of P50 was also offered.

“Bakit naman pinagkakitaan pa ang Palarong Pambansa?” the parents said, lamenting that this was the first time  DepEd would charge parents and other guests who came from different regions to watch Palaro.

Another parent from Pagadian City, whose child is a competing athlete in one of scheduled event in this year’s Palaro expressed belief that the imposition of entrance fee was the idea of the local government of Dapitan City.

She said she decided to attend the opening day but would no longer watch the succeeding playing days as well as closing ceremony due to her tight budget.

She also claimed that entrance fee will be collected on the scheduled basketball games set in Dipolog gym.

DepEd Assistant Secretary for legal affairs and this year’s Palaro executive committee chair Tonisito Umali, informed of the imposition of entrance fee, for his part said the collection have been stopped but did not give any explanation.

He claimed though that DepEd has nothing to do with collection of entrance fee, claiming that the local government of Dapitan City is this year’s host of Palarong Pambansa.

Security personnel manning the gate said the collection of entrance fee was stopped two hours after yesterday’s formal opening of Palaro games but could not provided answer why it was stopped.

“Baka ayaw na nilang magpapasok.” One parent asked the security who answered back “baka walang pumapasok.”

The security however said the P200 entrance fee would still be imposed since Sarah Geronimo will perform on that day.

They, however, lamented that featuring Geronimo or any showbiz personality presence should not be resorted to attract the public watch the games since the student athletes are the real star of the Palarong Pambansa.