The usual process of selection of athletes and sending them to the Palarong Panlalawigan will continue as DepEd-Palawan clarified that it has no intention to limit the participation of the student-athletes.
Provincial Board Member Ryan Maminta disclosed to the news media that the issue was settled during the joint committee meeting earlier this month of the Committee on Education and Welfare chaired by Board Member Sharon Abiog-Onda and Committee on Youth and Sports chaired by Ex-officio Member, SK Provincial Federation President Anyatika Rodriguez.
The discussion centered on the statement of DepEd OIC Superintendent, Dr. Natividad Bayubay, during the closing ceremony of the 2019 Provincial Athletic Meet last month that only athletes who can bag gold can join the Palarong Panlalawigan and eventually in the regional level. It was the topic of the Privilege Speech of Board Member David Francis Ponce de Leon during the 21st regular session.
“Nagkaroon naman ng pagkakasundo na what we are doing regarding sa Provincial Meet will continue. ‘Yun pa rin ‘yung gagawin natin—magho-host ang mga munisipyo tapos magpapadala ang mga municipalities ng athletes, kompleto pa rin; hindi ‘yung ili-limit natin kasi hindi nga naman ‘yung sports ay para lang sa winning,” Maminta said.
During the said meeting, the DepEd provincial chief assured the local legislative members that her statement was just “taken out of context” and she did not mean for that to happen but only emphasizing the importance of sports development in all schools in every municipality in the province of Palawan.
DepEd-Palawan then presented data about its sports programs with respect to Mimaropa RAA and National Games.
The Provincial board members asked the education department to submit its Educational Development Plan in order for them to discuss it in the third week of January next year.
“Kailangan lang na mag-submit talaga sila ng buong plano for the next five, ten years kasi importante ‘yung grassroots sports development,” he explained.
The result of the said committee meeting was scheduled to be reported to the plenary for the first reading on Dec. 10 but did not materialize because there was no quorum.
Maminta again used the “Project Strong” of the Municipality of Narra, his hometown, as an example of a successful local government unit’s program in effectively honing the athletes’ skills and preparedness.
“Yong [program] sa Narra, effective ‘yon kasi ‘yung pagkuha ng championship ay nagagawa eh—‘yon ang pinaka-end nu’ng competition na mag-champion, kumuha ng maraming medals, gold for that matter. Pero along the way, hindi natin pwedeng pigilan ang mga munisipyo at mga distrito ng lalawigan na sumali at magpadala ng mga atleta,” he pointed out.