Calbayog athletes join 2016 regional athletic event

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Jan. 29 (PNA) – At least 245 student athletes representing this city’s Department of Education (DepEd) division will join this year’s Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) meet that will kick off on Sunday in Ormoc City.

Athletic manager Ubaldo Diomangay said that at least 116 and 119 athletes from elementary and secondary categories, respectively will compete in 14 out of 17 sports events in the regional sports event.

These events are athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball.

Diomangay added that they have decided to shorten the list of athletes and chose only those who are competitive and with a high chance of bringing home a medal.

“We have decided to send only those athletes that are competitive and trim down to 14 out of 17 sports events. We will only participate in those events that our athletes are good enough to compete.” Diomangay said.

The official admitted that Calbayog City division was not as good as other divisions and was in the lowest ranking in last year’s athletic events. 

“But despite said result, we are not losing hope. We are positive and confident that our athletes will have an outstanding performance this year,” he added.

Aside from players, 159 delegation officials, officiating officials, coaches, trainers and assistant coaches joined the delegation that left for Ormoc City on Wednesday. 

The local government unit of Calbayog has allocated Php 1.5 million for the team. Bulk of said amount was used for the uniform, foods and vitamins of athletes. 

Meanwhile, Diomangay reminded teachers to give special consideration to pupils and students participating in the regional athletic event. 

He cited DepEd’s Regional Memorandum No. 62 issued in 1992 on giving opportunity/chance and consideration to athletes for lost academic opportunities during sports meets and trainings.

Diomangay said that learning participating in higher sports events are excused from attending classes and exempted from accomplishing required projects.

“We already informed the teachers about this matter, I hope they will give the students/pupils consideration, because by doing that we can also help these children develop as individual and their right to sports as embodied in the 1972 UNESCO charter.” Diomangay stressed.

The memorandum also states that “giving a failing grade to athletes as a consequence to their attendance in meets and trainings without giving them chance and the necessary consideration is a gross violation of his rights as mandated by the constitution.” (PNA)

RMA/SQM/JENNIFER S. ALLEGADO/EGR