NEWS RELEASE-𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐆𝐨!

April 2, 2026

BUTUAN CITY, March 30-31, 2026 – 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲’𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐚 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐨-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟑𝟎–𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐦 𝐒. 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐬. 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐠.

𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 The conference convened top DepEd officials, including regional directors, national technical officials, regional sports officers, and other regional directors, together with key players from various Palaro committees from the DepEd Central Office and the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur. (PGAS).

Leading the host province was Hon. Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr, Chairman of the Agusan del Sur Palaro Executive Committee, with DepEd Caraga Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion, CESO III, as Co-Chairperson. Also in attendance were Honorary Co-Chairpersons Vice Governor Patricia Anne Plaza, Congressman Adolph Edward Plaza, and Congressman Alfel Bascug, as well as members Hon. Kirk A. Asis, City Mayor of Bayugan City; Pedro T. Escobarte Jr., DepEd Caraga Assistant Regional Director; Dr. Josita B. Carmen, Schools Division Superintendent, Agusan del Sur; Ma. Teresa M. Real, Schools Division Superintendent, Bayugan City; Marilou Laurencio, Asst. Schools Division Superintendent, Agusan del Sur; Corazon R. Roa, Asst. Schools Division Superintendent; and representatives from PNP-Agusan del Sur.

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙐𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 Updates on regional preparations, including personnel requirements, budgetary allocations, logistics, and transportation plans were presented on Day 1.

Dr. Jumer C. Carlon, DepEd Caraga’s Regional Sports Officer, discussed Caraga Region’s overall readiness, including the status of billeting quarters for athletes and officials. Meanwhile, Ms. Dannah Rufalyn Buquir, Event Management Cluster Head, discussed the province’s event management framework, competition schedules, and venue preparations. She also unveiled and explained the official logo of the Palarong Pambansa 2026. The National Sports Associations Council (NSAC) also ensured that only athletes who passed the qualification standards may be allowed to compete.

𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙨, 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙨 On Day 2, media engagement strategies were presented by Prospero Jean V. Dela Peña, Chair of the Media Relations and Communications Committee, highlighting the importance of organized coverage of the events and partnerships with the local and national media to ensure timely, accurate, and responsible information dissemination.

𝙀𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 In line with safeguarding learner-athletes, the PGAS also discussed the establishment of a Disciplinary Committee, particularly its role in the operations of the Learner Rights and Protection (LRP) Desks throughout the duration of the event.

𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝, 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮

The PGAS also presented the health and sanitation protocols, emphasizing measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. Security measures for playing venues and billeting quarters were discussed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) of Agusan del Sur.

𝙄𝘾𝙏 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 Information and communications technology support systems were presented, including score tallying, game tabulation, and event scheduling, were presented, ensuring efficient and real-time management of competition results.

𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮 The PGAS Food Supplies Committee detailed plans to secure steady supply of food products and raw materials for delegates, while closely monitoring stock levels to guarantee sufficient provisions.

𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙨

DepEd Caraga’s Dr. Flordelisa Dalin presented the plans for the centralized awarding ceremonies, detailing specific focal persons, schedules, and other related protocols.

𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙-𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙤 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

As a vital platform for collaboration and coordination, the First National Technical Conference reinforced shared responsibilities, technical standards, and operational readiness, setting the stage for a safe, organized, and world-class Palarong Pambansa 2026 that celebrates excellence, unity, and the Filipino learner-athlete.

𝘉𝘺 𝘑𝘦𝘻 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘙. 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘰

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘐

𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵, 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘌𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘢

𝐄𝐍𝐃

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.