Palarong Pambansa goes digital this year with no kids under 15
Refusing to scrap the Palarong Pambansa for another year, the Department of Education (DepEd) is going digital in holding the games by setting up virtual competitions for student-athletes in several sports.
“We have already identified the sports to be played, but I’m not at liberty to divulge these since we haven’t finalized the list yet,’’ said DepEd Secretariat director Joel Erestain.
He explained the identified sports should get the nod of the Palarong Pambansa board before forwarding the proposal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for final approval.
It will be the first time that the annual Palaro, a multievent sportsfest for the best elementary and high school student-athletes in the country, will bring its competitions online due to the raging health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our primordial concern will always be the safety of our children. On the part of the Palaro, the safety of the student-athletes should be given top priority,’’ added Erestain.
He said the DepEd has ruled out the participation of student-athletes below 15 years old, specifically those belonging to the elementary level as well as Grades 7 and 8 participants.
“We have to limit the exposure of our student-athletes within their localities,’’ said Erestain.
