IRIGA CITY – Some local officials here have expressed dismay over the cancellation of certain sports events of the Palarong Pambansa 2006 that the city government here has offered to host.

        City Councilor Omar Ampongan said that many residents were frustrated over the City of Naga’s decision to drop its earlier announcement that some of the games would be played here upon the invitation of Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen.

        Ampongan was responsible for sponsoring a resolution in the Sanggunian early last month requesting Naga City to consider Iriga as satellite venue for other events in the Palaro that is being hosted by Naga.

        But in Naga City, City Administrator Frank Mendoza corrected that the matter of not bringing some of the games in Iriga was not a decision made by the Naga City government.

        Mendoza explained that during an emergency meeting on the matter, delegation officials complained that holding some of the games in another venue outside of Naga would entail additional budget and effort on the part of their players which were not originally factored in their itinerary and budget.

        The information not to push with the other games in Iriga was confirmed last May 9 through a letter signed by Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo and hand carried by Mendoza.

        Before that final decision, local officials here had put out banners and streamers welcoming certain games to be played in this city even when there was no confirmation yet from DepEd of Iriga’s request to host some of the games.

        “We were really surprised upon learning that all the games supposedly to be held in Iriga were cancelled when the Iriga city government had already exerted efforts and spent money for the anticipated games.