With plans to open the schools and gradually re-introduce face-to-face learning, holding of sports competitions may also soon start, Romeo Sison, sports division officer of DepEd Division of Negros Occidental, said.
He said dry run for gradual face-to-face learning was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte for the Department of Education to implement and the regional directors are discussing how to implement the new approach.
Sison stressed that observance of health protocols will still be strictly observed during the competitions.
In the DepEd Calendar for 2021, Sison said they have included the budget for sports meets but with the pandemic, he is pushing for tryouts for potential members of the Provincial Team instead of holding local meets.
The division is also considering those players who are supposed to play for the 2020 Palaro to represent the province if they are still enrolled for school year 2020-2021.
“Separate tryouts of selected players will be made for players who will compose the regional delegation depending on the plans of the DepEd regional office,” Sison said.
The Palarong Pambansa for 2021 is tentatively set in June but no final announcement of the venue has been made yet.
Marikina City was supposed to host the 2020 National Palaro that was moved to year 2021 but the recent flood that hit Marikina City may affect the preparations of the local government.
Negros Occidental is set to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2022.
Sison asked the DepEd trainors and coaches of different districts in Negros Occidental to continue conducting trainings after the holidays in preparation for possible tryouts for higher meets.
The trainors and coaches under DepEd continued to receive their salaries since they are employees of the department. – MML
