LEGAZPI CITY- The upcoming Palarong Pambansa and regional selection meet has three conditions: no disruption of classes, no huge gatherings, and it should be efficient and economical.
According to Ronald Asis, chief of Education Support Services Division (ESSD) of Department of Education Bicol, the Palarong Pambansa will be having its new level for the team sports and will only have four (4) clusters based from its geographical area as approved by the Palaro Board.
“Mayroon [tayong] tatawaging Pre-Qualifying Meet, ‘yung lahat ng team sports. Tapos ang buong pilipinas [madidivide] into clusters. Four (4) clusters by geographical area. Kaya tayo ang cluster natin, sad to say, NCR, 4A, 4B tapos Region 5. Medyo hindi kalakasan yung kasama natin,” he said.
In addition, Asis presented three (3) main reasons why the Bicol Region also adapted the Regional Memorandum No. 15 series of 2023 or the Regional Invitational Clustered Qualifying Meet for Team Sports (RICQMTS).
“Ang pinaka objective ay para tayo ay walang disruption of classes, wala tayong huge gathering and costly palaro activities. And at the same time we will raise the level of competition. Kasi ‘yung tataas ‘yung talagang maga-galing,” Asis stated
Palarong Bicol 2023: Trainings, Venue and Schedule
The thirteen(13) divisions in the region were clustered into four (4) in terms of geographical area.
- Cluster A: Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Naga City.
- Cluster B: Iriga City, Albay and Ligao City.
- Cluster C: Legazpi City, Tabaco City and Catanduanes.
- Cluster D: Sorsogon Province, Sorsogon City, Masbate Province and Masbate City.
All these clusters are now preparing for the upcoming Palarong Bicol as part of the preparation of the region for the Palarong Pambansa.
The different sports event will be hosted by respective local government units (LGUs) and school divisions offices (SDO) in Bicol region.
“Halimbawa yung athletics, swimming, archery, gymnastics at weightlifting sa Naga kasi malawak ang [venue] diyan, ready na. Pero yung baseball, football, softball at futsal sa Albay. Pati yung billiard, boxing, table tennis at tennis sa Legazpi City. Kinonsider din kung saan may mga apparatuses at kung saan pwede [venue],” Asis said.
The grand opening is schedules on April 23 at Legazpi Sports Center, Legazpi City with lined-up activities such as motorcade, a mass and a solidarity meeting with the SDOs and LGUs.
The awarding will be on April 28 for team sports and individual events after the Palarong Pambansa.
“Pagkatapos maselect na kami for the contingents, ‘yung mga athletes natin [and] coaches, for pre-qualifying meets in Marikina (and) para dun sa palarong pambansa,” Asis stated.
Asis further clarified that there will be no selection for the team sports during the Palarong Bicol and only the original team who will win the event will represent the region.
“Para pag nag-practice isang school nalang, kayo-kayo nalang. Pagkatapos, mas mare-recognize ang isang school. Mahirap at magastos. Magta-travel pa ‘yung bata,” he said.
Meanwhile, they gave an assurance that all the divisions’ facilities and teams are already equipped for the upcoming 2023 Palarong Bicol this April 24 to 28.
Orencio Chavez, the head of Naga City School Division Office, explained that there is still a need to improve on their facilities that will be used in the said events.
“Igwa kami ready na facilities at meron ng sports complex, gatiit (kaunti) nalang na repair and improvement and naabisuhan naman [na] ang LGU Naga regarding the preparation,” he said.
Strengthening Sports Club in every Schools
Asis reiterated the importance of sports club in every school in order to produce well-talented and competitive athletes and even more so, to help every athlete in honing their potentials.
According to Asis, each school should have a sports club: athletics club, basketball club just like other clubs like Math and Science club.
“Kaya ‘yan pong sports club(s) pinapalakas po natin yan na dapat sa mga paaralan meron na tayong athletics club, basketball club, similar ‘yung math clubs, science club, so on so forth,” he stated.
Hence, Asis assured that the coaches in various teams are already equipped as a trainer of the athletes for their next level of Palaro.
“Meron kaming nagawa na at patuloy na ginagawa pa. Sa training wala tayong problema kasi ang central office nagbibigay ng training(s). Ngayon may parating na refresher course(s) para sa iba’t-ibang sports event(s). Kumukuha sila na tigda-dalawa o tigta-tatlo sa division offices and then ‘yung nakuha nagiging trainers natin dito sa region 5,” he said.
Meanwhile, they are also starting to build a sports academy for the refinement of the athletes in Bicol.
For now, there are already two (2) sports academies located in Camarines Sur and Masbate while Naga City, Iriga and Legazpi are still in the process of producing such.
“Kung saan nakakatulong din [to have a sports academy] kasi instead na maingganyo siya na pumunta sa ibang rehiyon meron ng sports academy sa kanilang lugar. Ito na ‘yung nagiging strategy [each divisions],” Asis explained. I Aimee Mae Gizelle Sesno, Jemimah So