GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd)-Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has suspended the scheduled regional events and school-based activities for this month in the wake of the nationwide alert against the deadly novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV).
DepEd-12 public information officer Anton Maganto said Thursday the move was in compliance with a directive issued by their central office in response to the threat of the disease's potential spread.
Maganto said DepEd-12, in coordination with local schools and concerned stakeholders, decided to postpone the scheduled Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) Meet here on Feb. 19-23. It was rescheduled on March 1-5 but still subject to possible changes, depending on the 2019-nCoV situation, he said.
“This is to ensure the safety of our student-athletes and other participants,” he said in a radio interview, adding the training of the athletes has been put on hold by their respective delegations.
The annual SRAA meet draws over 5,000 athletes, coaches, sports officials and other participants from the region's nine school divisions.
Also affected by the suspension are the region’s delegates to the National Schools Press Conference in Tuguegarao, Cagayan; National Festival of Talents in Ilagan City, Isabela; and, the National Science and Technology Fair in Cubao, Quezon City.
Dr. Allan Farnazo, DepEd-12 director, said local schools have also suspended the holding of their scheduled activities in line with the directive.
He said they are currently monitoring the compliance of all schools regarding the implementation of preventive measures against the 2019-nCoV. He said these include the practice of proper sanitation among learners like hand washing on a regular basis and the suspension of group activities.
“Learners exhibiting respiratory infections must not attend activities that involve the congregation of learners within schools,” he said.
Farnazo added that the holding of flag ceremonies in groups was also suspended and should be done instead inside the classrooms. (PNA)
