The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division in Palawan will send 447 athletes to compete in the 2019 MIMAROPA Regional Athletic Association (MIMAROPARAA) meet set on February 17 to 21 in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
Grace Estefano, information officer of the DepEd in the province said the delegation will be composed of 180 elementary student-athletes and 267 in the secondary level.
It will also include 66 coaches for elementary and 85 for secondary, 11 chaperones from elementary and 14 for secondary players, as well as 96 division officials totaling 719 members.
“Kahit ongoing ang kanilang quartering, meron pa rin ina-allot na time para sa klase. Meron nagpo-provide na mga teacher natin na coaches, nagbibigay sila ng session para maka-catch up ang mga batang nag-aaral. Para di naman sila nali-late sa studies nila. Hindi dahil nagti-training sila ay hindi na sila nagka-klase, meron pa rin sila para maka-catch up sila,” Estefano pointed out.
(Even if their quartering is ongoing, time is still alloted for them to attend their classes. Coaches are providing their needs, they give sessions for the students to catch up. This is for them not to be late in their academics. Their training does not mean that they won’t attend their classes, they still need to catch up.)
She said they are expecting the delegation to bring home medals from sepak takraw, athletics, and archery in both levels.
“Sa atin yong sepak takraw, athletics, archery ang nagbigay ng medals… as per last year ito ‘yong mga hawak natin. Iyan ‘yong ating mga pinanghahawakan (Last year, we won medals in sepak takraw, athletics, and archery. These are the sports competitions where led),” she added.
The province of Occidental Mindoro will host two successive years of the regional sports event.
The Palawan delegate is scheduled to leave the city for the competition on February 12 and expected to return on February 23.
