DepEd reminds Palaro athletes, officials to follow Davao City’s ordinances

DAVAO CITY – The Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd 11) has urged all the delegates participating in the coming Palarong Pambansa 2019 here to follow the existing ordinances of the city.

DepEd 11 spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said the participants are advised to abide with the city’s stringent rules on jaywalking, smoking, and curfew for minors, among others.

He underscored that ordinance no one will be excused from compliance with these ordinances.

"Even if this is a special event and they are our guests, nobody is above -- should respect the majesty of the law," he said.

Atillo said each delegation will be given an orientation on the prohibited acts while they are inside the city during the duration of the national games.

Aside from the ordinances, the City Health Office (CHO) will be also implementing a strict food preparation to each delegation within their billeting quarters.

City Sports Division Office head Michael Denton Aportadera told reporters that every delegation should adhere to CHO's safety standards in preparing food to avoid poisoning on the part of the athletes.

Aportadera said the CHO will conduct a basic food handling seminar to all food committees of every delegation for them to know the proper ways of cooking their food preparation as well as sanitation.

He also said the CHO will also advise the all delegation not to recycle food for the safety of all their athletes.

Aportadera said the city will be also providing transportation to the delegates upon their arrival at the Davao International Airport and Sasa Port going to their billeting quarters.

Aside from the buses, the city will also provide two service vehicles for every delegation to be used in their marketing and other errands.

The city government also will give 15 sacks of rice and 70 kilos of chicken and beef each delegations for the whole duration of the national sporting event.

There will be also free wifi connections in all 27 sporting venues which will be available for the athletes, sporting officials and the rest of the member of each delegations.

Aportadera also assured that all playing venues all over the city will have drinking stations to keep the athletes hydrated to avoid any incidence of dehydration due to high heat index.

He said there will be no athlete sleeping in cartons as the city will provide mattresses to all delegates including the technical officials.

There will be around 15,000 participants who will gather here for the more than 20 regular sporting who will fight for gold medals and become the Palarong Pambansa 2019 overall champion.