With the Department of Education central office announcing its proposed move to cancel this year’s staging of the Palarong Pambansa, the scheduling of regional sports meets may be affected as well.
DepEd-Cordillera Information Officer Georaloy Palao-ay said they are currently waiting for the memorandum from the central office for the conduct of the Palaro supposedly set May 1 to 9 in Marikina City.
He said that based on the statement of Usec. and spokesperson Ann Sevilla, DepEd will propose the cancellation of the national sports meet to the Palarong Pambansa board via ad referendum.
“The board, which includes the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Philippine Sports Commission, will deliberate this week for the final decision. The fate of the Palarong Pambansa will affect our conduct of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association sports meet,” Palao-ay said.
Since March 8, DepEd has cancelled its activities from the national to regional levels as a measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.
“We have measures in place but we are waiting for the final say of the Palaro Board,” Palao-ay said.
The CARAA sports meet, originally set last month in Baguio City as its host, serves as the regional athlete’s preparation and screening for the Palarong Pambansa.
Last year, the CARAA Fearless Highlanders was in 10th place with 14 gold, 13 silver, and 24 bronze medals in the Palarong Pambansa.
Perennial winner National Capital Region topped the Palaro with 86-71-56 medal tally followed by Southern Tagalog Region with 66-49-73 medal tally and West Visayas Region with 49-40-58 medal tally. – Ofelia C. Empian
