DepEd-CAR official: Sports vital to learners

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- A Department of Education in Cordillera official highlighted the importance of sports for learners.

Estella Cariño, DepEd – CAR regional director on Wednesday said many of the learners in the region are into sports, adding they cannot also allow them to be idle or forget physical fitness and for students who are into sports to stop.

She disclosed they are looking to discussing their annual plan.

“Even if we will not have the actual contest, we can still encourage them maybe to do it like if it is allowed in their own barangay,” she added.

When asked for a statement regarding the proposed bill entitled “An Act Banning Minors from Full-Contact Competitive Sports,” which seeks to prohibit the participation of minors in competitive full- contact sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts, jiu jitsu, muay thai, judo, and various forms of full-contact karate, she said this may limit the interest of learners who are into sports.

“Parang we are curtailing the interest of our learners, there are learners who come to school because of this opportunity to be good in sports. Once inalis mo baka magdrop na sila, na what if iyon pala iyong ang ginawa ng Diyos para sa kaniya for him or her to be good in that sports,” the regional director said.

Given the Coronavirus disease situation, she added the staging of sports meets in the Cordillera region in 2021 may not be possible.

“Wala tayong Palaro for this year, kung may Palaro for 2022 then definitely we will have Caraa for 2021 with the situation natin it may not be possible,” said Cariño.

The 2020 Palarong Pambansa which was supposed set in Marikina City, Metro Manila, from May 1 to 9, 2020 was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The annual sports meet is for elementary and high school student- athletes. The Palarong Pambansa 2019 concluded with National Capital Region as the champion gaining 86 gold medals, 71 silver and 56 bronze.

Cordillera Administrative Region ranked 10th place in 2019 with 14 gold, 13 silver and 24 bronze medal.

Meanwhile, the Benguet State University had also opened its grounds for the conduct of physical exercises only allowed before and after working hours of the day.

This is to uplift the mental and physical health of its residents subject to strict observance of health protocols.

SSB file photo SPORTS IN EDUCATION. While student athletes yearn for the return of sports competition like Caraa 2019 following its cancellation this year due to Covid -19, DepEd – CAR said they are looking for ways on how to encourage them in continuing their training.