Participants brave the rain as they attend the opening of the Palarong Pambansa at the Marikina Sports Park in Marikina City on July 31, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- The preparation for this year's Palarong Pambansa has not been affected by the resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte as secretary of the Department of Education.

Duterte officially tendered her resignation last week. Apart from her post at DepEd, she also resigned as vice-chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

READ: Sara Duterte resigns from Marcos Cabinet

Speaking to reporters, acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia said all preparations for the Palarong Pambansa are still in place.

"First of all, the effectivity of the Vice President is on the 19th pa," said Garcia. "For all intents and purposes, she will be the DepEd Secretary for the Palaro."

"It doesn’t matter, in the local level, we are already prepared," added the acting mayor.

They have already secured the billeting quarters of the delegates, who will be coming from all regions. 

This year, there will also be a delegation from Philippine Schools Overseas and the National Academy of Sports.

Garcia did not confirm the presence of Duterte during the opening of the Palarong Pambansa slated on July 9.

However, a security plan is already laid out for her possible arrival.

"We are preparing for their arrival - both the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines," Garcia further said.

Over 5,000 cops from the Philippine National Police are also set to be deployed to secure the weeklong sporting event.