NEWS RELEASE

May 23, 2026

BAYUGAN CITY—𝗔𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿-𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 (𝗟𝗥𝗣𝗢) 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖. 𝗔𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The initiative is being implemented through the Education Support Services Division (ESSD), headed by Chief Edmund D. Mendoza, PhD, with the LRPO led by Regional Focal Person Giro Paolo Misael V. Almendralejo. The activation strengthens child protection policies and sets up immediate response and intervention for learner-related concerns throughout the national sporting event.

The LRPO aims to promote a safe, supportive, and learner-friendly environment across all billeting quarters, playing venues, and official event areas for athletes, coaches, officials, and delegates.

As part of the ongoing preparations, Learner Rights and Protection (LRP) Desks and a Wellness Hub were established on May 20, 2026, within the billeting quarters of the Caraga delegation. The LRPO is currently coordinating with field personnel, guidance advocates, school health personnel, social workers, and designated focal persons to strengthen reporting, referral, monitoring, and response systems for learner protection concerns.

Likewise, LRP Desks are also being established in various playing venues through the active participation of LRP Officers and personnel from the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur – Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PGAS-PSWDO).

At the Caraga billeting quarter located at Bayugan National Comprehensive High School, the LRP Desks continue to implement initiatives that promote learner safety, welfare, and awareness during the conduct of the games. Advocacy and information materials such as flyers, foldable fans, LRP manuals, posters containing QR codes and emergency contact details, and advocacy stickers are being distributed to help learner-athletes, coaches, and delegates become more informed about learner protection mechanisms and available support services.

To further strengthen safety and monitoring measures, pass slips are also being implemented within the billeting quarter. The system documents the entry and exit of learner-athletes under the supervision and accompaniment of their respective coaches, trainers, or chaperones. This initiative reinforces accountability, supervision, and safeguarding practices throughout the duration of the event.

Meanwhile, the Wellness Hub established inside the Guidance Office serves as a safe and welcoming space dedicated to supporting the mental health and psychosocial well-being of learner-athletes. Playing mats have been arranged throughout the area to provide learners with a comfortable environment where they may sit, rest, interact, and temporarily relax after training and competition activities.

Learner-athletes are also encouraged to participate in simple recreational and stress-relieving activities such as board games, drawing, coloring, and artwork sessions. These activities allow learners to freely express themselves while enjoying moments of relaxation at their own pace. The Wellness Hub initiatives are expected to expand further in the coming days through more interactive and engaging psychosocial activities to be facilitated by the Regional Guidance Counselors (RGCs).

In line with its advocacy efforts, the LRPO continues to intensify information dissemination and learner engagement activities to increase awareness among learner-athletes and delegates regarding learner rights, available support systems, and reporting mechanisms for protection concerns.

These initiatives are firmly anchored on DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, otherwise known as the DepEd Child Protection Policy, which upholds the protection of learners from all forms of abuse, violence, bullying, exploitation, discrimination, and other forms of harm while fostering a safe, inclusive, and child-friendly environment in all educational activities, including the Palarong Pambansa.

For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

By: Leah Ellen V. Yaoyao

TA II - ESSD

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