- MITCH M. LIPA
The Negros Occidental Provincial Schools Division is awaiting word from the central office of the Department of Education whether to allow the conduct of the provincial and regional eliminations for eight events that are being proposed by the Palaro Board to be played virtually during the 2021 Palarong Pambansa.
Romeo Sison, DepEd provincial sports officer, said archery, arnis, billiards, chess, gymnastics, taekwondo, dance sports and pencak silat may be held virtually as proposed by the National Inter-Agency Task Force to DepEd central office.
Sison said once the guidelines are out, he will convene the sports coordinators from the different districts to discuss and decide on the mechanics for the conduct of provincial and regional eliminations online.
Palaro Pambansa is normally set during the summer period.
Sison said the staging of school sports events is still among the budgeted programs of DepEd amidst the pandemic.
Sison also said the Palaro Board has decided that after the Luzon hosting, Negros Occidental will host games the following year.
Jojo Amugod, of the Provincial Public Affairs Office, concurrent Panaad Park administrator, said the repair and rehabilitation of the stadium and the track oval are in full scale since this is the best time to proceed with the construction as activities are banned during the pandemic.
The construction and repair temporarily stopped last year when Bacolod City was under enhanced community quarantine. – MML
