PRESS BRIEFING. Department of Education (DepEd) officials answer questions during a press briefing on the ongoing Palarong Bicol 2024 at the Media Center of Albay Central School in Legazpi City on Monday (April 29, 2024). More than 6,500 athletes, coaches, officials, and other delegates are in Albay province for the sports events. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) is implementing a "window hour" system in the ongoing Palarong Bicol 2024 to protect athletes, coaches, and officials from the excessive heat caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
In a press conference on Monday, Dexter Sison, assistant regional sports coordinator, said the schedule for field sports has been adjusted to ensure the health and safety of the delegates during the weeklong sports activity.
"Dahil sa heat index, may adjustment po and instructions gabos na field sports may window hour (Due to the heat index, there is an adjustment and instructions for all field sports with a window hour). For the safety of the children, we started the game by 6 a.m. and up to 10 a.m. After that, no more games from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. because that's the highest recorded heat index. All field sports will resume from 3:30 p.m. and can extend up to 7 p.m. if needed," Sison said.
He noted that the "window hour" will help prevent heat-related illnesses as part of their child protection policy.
"Despite all the adjustments, we expect all sports events to be completed by May 3. All coaches are instructed that they can extend the time with exemption to baseball and softball," he added.
Jason Razal, DepEd Palarong Pambansa secretariat, who is present to monitor the ongoing sports event, said the window hour was in response to the advisory issued by the Department of Health (DOH).
"We follow the advisory of the DOH. We are very happy here since not only those sports events that are exposed to the heat of the sun but also those events that are experiencing too much heat. During (the) window hour, athletes can go back to their billeting or they can go to some cool areas with the assistance of their coaches," he said.
Meanwhile, Ronald C. Asis, DepEd Bicol sports coordinator, said Learner Rights and Protection Desks (LRP-Desk) were set up in all billeting quarters during the Palaro to ensure the safety of the student-athletes.
"DepEd Bicol is very sincere in the implementation of child protection policy. The 13 Schools Division Offices (SDO), schools, and billeting quarters now have LRP desks ready to address and take complaints. For last year, we don't have any notable cases concerning violations of child rights," he said.
The LRP-Desk is part of the DepEd Child Protection Policy under the DepEd Order 40 s. 2012.
DepEd-Bicol reiterates a zero-tolerance policy for any act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying, and other forms of abuse.
Athletes who want to report any child protection concerns can approach help desk personnel who are stationed in different playing venues.
Some 6,500 athletes, coaches, officials, and other delegates from 13 Schools Division Offices (SDO) of the Department of Education-Bicol (DepEd-5) are in this city for the 2024 Palarong Bicol from April 28 to May 4. (PNA)
