DepEd, Albay prep for Palarong Pambansa 2016

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the provincial government of Albay continue its preparations for the Palarong Pambansa 2016 which will be held at the Albay Sports and Tourism Complex in Legazpi City from April 10 to 16.

With the theme: “Transforming Communities, Transcending Through K to 12,” DepEd will bring elementary and high school students from the private and public sectors across the country.

READ: Albay to host Palarong Pambansa 2016

Elementary students will compete in 15 games while students in the secondary level will participate in 17 games and four demonstration sports: futsal, wushu, billiards and wrestling.

The education department said that this year’s Palarong Pambansa will determine whether the said demonstration sports will become regular events in succeeding national games.

Palarong Pambansa 2016 will feature participants from 18 regions, including the recently-established Negros Island Region which was created by virtue of Executive Order 183 signed by President Benigno Aquino III last May 29, 2015.

Aside from promoting physical education and sports as essential parts of the basic education curriculum, the Palarong Pambansa also aims to widen the base for talent identification, selection, recruitment, training and exposure of students to serve as athletes roster for international sports competitions.

“We are institutionalizing this sports program to ensure that we are developing athletes that are of international caliber. Together with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Provincial Government of Albay, the [department] will see to it that the standards are at international level and that the coaching staff, the technical officials as well as the playing venues conform to international standards,” Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC said in a statement on Wednesday.

One of the highlights of the Palarong Pambansa is the special games for children who have special needs. They will compete in athletics, swimming, goal ball, and bocce.

Just like its practice every year, the education department said that it will implement a “clean and green” Palarong Pambansa.

“Katulad po muli ng mga nagdaang taon yung ating Palaro Clean and Green program na kung saan ang ating kalihim Br. Armin Luistro ay tinututukan na hindi lang dapat ang mga medalya ang tinitignan ng mga bata kung hindi rin po iyong disiplina sa pamamagitan po ng pagpapanatili na malinis at maayos po ang ating mga sports venues at ang mga billeting quarters at paggamit po ng mga recyclable materials sa kanilang pagkain,” Assistant Secretary of Legal and Legislative Affairs Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq. said.

(Our Palaro Clean and Green program is just like in previous years wherein Secretary Br. Armin Luistro sees to it that the students focus not only on the medals but also observe discipline by keeping our sports venues and billeting quarters clean and neat and using recyclable materials when they eat.) RAM