LEGAZPI CITY (PIA5/Albay)---The Department of Education (DepEd) Bicol aims to raise its standard in selecting individual and team athletes who will represent the region in Palarong Pambansa 2023.

‘’We are conducting Palarong Bicol as a selection process on the athletes that will be our representatives in the national level,’’ School Division Office (SDO) Legazpi Sports Officer Francisco Dexter Sison said during the press conference held April 24, Monday at Albay Central School Legazpi City.

Sison said that their basis is the standard set by  DepEd Central Office regarding the qualifications of  athletes who will compete for the Palarong Pambansa.

He highlighted that players for the team sports such as basketball, volleyball, futsal, football, baseball and softball should pass through the pre-qualifying Palarong Bicol through clustered SDO provinces and cities.

‘’I would like to clarify that the clustering of the SDOs was previously conducted as a pre-palarong Bicol tournament. Those who won the sports in each cluster will be the official representative to the Palarong Bicol 2023 in April 24 to 27 games,’’ Sison said.

The opening ceremony of the Palarong Bicol 2023 was held on April 23 while its closing ceremony will be  on April 28, Friday.

Pre-qualifying tournaments will be held similarly from Palarong Bicol to Palarong Pambansa 2023.

Delegates' incentive

Sison declared that the athletes and coaches from SDO Legazpi will receive incentives provided by the Local Government of Legazpi City.

‘’Here in Legazpi, athletes and coaches will receive P5,000 cash allowance with free bags, jackets, shoes, food, cap, and transportation from the kindness of Legazpi City Mayor Geraldine Rosal,’’ Sison said.

‘’The incentives depend on the budget allocation that LGU will give to the division offices. It is a common practice to LGU’s that their allowance for players and coaches is not lower than P3,000,’’ he added.

The DepEd regional office guaranteed their full support to the needs of the delegates who will pass  the rigorous qualification round for the Palarong Bicol 2023 to Palarong Pambansa. SIson said that they can also ask for the assistance from their respective LGUs. 

Health interventions

Due to the high heat index experienced in the Bicol Region, SDO Legazpi Department of Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Coordinator Architect Rolan P. Aliansa explained the set up for the venues of the games.

‘’With regards to heat index, the billeting schools were wide and not overcrowded. Also most of the games will be conducted indoors, like covered courts,’’ Aliansa said.

Aliansa stressed that outdoor games such as boxing will start at 3PM to avoid heat exhaustion of the participants.

Sison also said that the Palaro is modified to avoid huge gatherings and prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as the COVID19 virus.

Postponement of a game due to health issues is unlikely.

Prior to the commencement of the game, the body temperature of all participants shall be checked to ensure that they are in optimal health for the duration of the match. (PIA5/Albay)

Photo courtesy of: John Paul Monsalve Oro Site-SHS Immersion student