Lingayen and DepEd Aim to Establish A Benchmark in the Palarong Pambansa 2012

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Education (DepEd) and Province of Pangasinan  followed by  presscon on the 2012 Palarong Pambansa was held  last March 14 at the Bulawagan ng Karunungan at DepEd Complex.

As Palarong Pambansa gears up to promote physical education as  integral to the Basic Education Curriculum where the school  vouch  to  develop  students  to be responsible and globally competitive even in the spirit of sports.   The MOU outlines the respective roles and responsibilities of DepEd and the province of Pangasinan on the conduct of the sports events.

Present on the MOU signing were Tonisito M.C. Umali, Esq., DepEd Assist. Sec. and Secretary General of the Pambansang Palaro,  Ligaya Solenad Miguel DepEd Director,  Rizalino Rivera, DepEd Usec. of  Reg. Operations, Pangasinan Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, and headed by DepEd Secreatry Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC and Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.

With the pronouncement, "Expect a Clean and Green 2012 Palarong Pamabansa!"   Bro. Armin Lusitro, put a stress on playing clean games where no cheating of any matter is allowed.   Being a venue for value formation, it is important above all that sports in Palaro teaches athletes not just the value of winning but more the discipline, safety and cleanliness out of the whole event.

 “The Palaro is a venue for values formation among our youth, this is where positive Filipino values should apply,” Bro. Armin explained.

On another  note to cleanliness,  emphasized also was pursuing what they have started at last year's Palaro in Dapitan.   A plead for an eco-friendly event, where they banned plastic cups and  spoons or fork.  Instead they had the delegates bring their own eating utensils.   This year, still no Styrofoam or plastics when preparing food.

Another aspect of having a fair and clean sports event is the assurance that issues on the past Palaro pertaining the eligibility of an athlete have been dealt well.  According  to Usec. Tonisito Umali, DepEd have been strict that all records are checked even that of the dental, the physical, mental and emotional aspects of every participants are examined.

With these they are appealing to those concerned that those from the local districts from schools down to the coaches, will be found accountable for their every actions.

As stipulated in DepEd Memo No. 22 series of 2012, this year’s host of the annual national sporting event is the provincial government of Pangasinan and DepEd Regional Office 1 assisted by the schools division office of Pangasinan and the city schools division offices of San Carlos City and Dagupan City.

DepEd has allocated some P136.5 million for this year’s Palaro. Most of the events will be played at the Narciso Ramos Sports Center in Lingayen while the rest will be in the cities of San Carlos and Dagupan and the towns of Bugallon and Binmaley. Some 10,000 athletes, coaches and sports officials from the country’s 17 regions are expected to participate in the country’s biggest sports spectacle.   While P !50 million will be coming from the provincial funds of Pangasinan.  

However, Luistro added that the Palaro should not be made a once-a- year event but a continuing activity to really develop the athletic prowess and sportsmanship of the young. Likewise, the games venue should not be so constructed as to last for just a year. “It should be made to last for years so that many athletes can use it for a continuous sports program."   With these, the governor hopes to continue what had been funded with the future plan, of putting up a sports academy  and make use of the facilities which will be used 

 

Student –athletes who stand out from the Palaro serve as feeder to the National Sports Associations for further training for international competitions. “In a way, the results of the Palaro provide a database for a more sound and relevant school development program,” added Luistro.   Famous athletes were trained and  screened  from theses such as Elma Muros, Lydia de Vega, Samboy Lim, Enchong Dee among others.

The sporting events are athletics, arnis, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics (women’s artistic gymnastics, men’s artistic gymnastic and rhythmic gymnastics), sipa takraw, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball.

For the differently-abled, there is goalball, aquatics, bocce, long jump, shot put and 100, 200 and 400 meter dash.

A benchmark  for the future!   Palarong Pambansa would be one good leverage for us Filipino citizens  and the world that indeed our nation is changing , for the better.   So let us all be witnesses  to this year's  2012  Palarong  Pambansa  which is youth friendly and environment-friendly!