City of San Fernando, Pampanga—In a bid to close the gaps between the needs of the Department of Education and the quality of the teacher graduates of the different teacher education institutions or TEIs in Central Luzon, DepEd RO3 held the Regional Consultative Conference with the Teacher Education Institutions on February 24 at the Aquino Hall, DepEd Regional Office.

With the theme

“The youth’s involvement in sports plays an integral role in the holistic and well-balanced development necessary in the attainment of their fullest potentials and ambitions in life. Their active participation in various sports activities not only improves their physical and mental abilities in their chosen sport, but it also becomes an opportunity for them to instill among themselves the values of hard work, discipline, and excellence,” said OIC-Regional Director Malcolm S. Garma.

The sport events include Archery, Amis, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Sepak Takraw, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Special Olympics. Billiard, Futsal and Sepak Takraw-Girls shall be demonstration sports.

The Regional Athletic Association (RAA) is chaired by the Regional Director, together with the Governor of the Province of Bulacan as Honorary Chairman. The Assistant Regional Director and Schools Division Superintendent of the host SDO as Vice-Chairmen, and all Schools Division Superintendents and all Regional Division Chiefs as members.

The twenty participating schools divisions are Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Balanga City, Bulacan, Cabanatuan City, Gapan, Mabalacat City, Malolos City, Meycauyan City, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, City of San Fernando, San Jose City, San Jose del Monte, Tarlac Province, Tarlac City, and Zambales.•