DUMAGUETE CITY, February 18, 2019 – The Department of Education (DepEd) put premium on the safe and smooth conduct of the 2019 Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet from February 17 to 22 in Dumaguete City.

Before the opening salvo, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones visited participating delegations of the regional meet to address the concerns of teachers, coaches, and athletes by personally meeting them in their respective billeting quarters.

Moreover, the Secretary confirmed that the Department empowers the law on its mandate of hosting Palarong Pambansa, and its regional counterparts to further enrich and improve the way of teaching and conducting sports.

“Sports is a very important part of education and we invest a great deal in it,” Briones said.

The DepEd sporting event also serve as a major source of national athletes who represent the country in various international sports fests. This has produced distinguished Palaro alumni like Lydia de Vega, Elma Muroz, and Eugene Torre.

Further, the Secretary encouraged the athletes to specialize in sports. This is after the statistics revealed that less than 0.05 percent of the 1.5 million Senior High School students chose the sports track.

Meanwhile, Briones believed that physical challenges are not barriers to participation and excellence in sports. This is why athletes with special needs take part in their sporting events, the Paralympics.

Secretary Briones likewise emphasized that athletes in this regional meet shall not just focus on winning but also on the development of those lifelong skills of dealing with others, team building, and bonding with fellow athletes.

Finally, the Secretary expressed her confidence that the CVIRAA delegation will do their best.

END

By:
Albert E. Sarsuelo
Schools Division of Bayawan City