NEWS RELEASE 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

April 29, 2026

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – To ensure the safety and mental well-being of thousands of student-athletes, DepEd Caraga’s Learner Rights and Protection Office (LRPO) and the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS) convened a critical coordination meeting on April 28, 2026, at the Provincial Learning Center.

The session finalized the deployment of Learner Rights and Protection (LRP) Desk Officers and Wellness Hub personnel for the upcoming Palarong Pambansa 2026, the first time the region will host the prestigious national sporting event.

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

Mr. Giro Paolo Misael V. Almendralejo (PDO II – LRPO) led the morning session, detailing child protection protocols under DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012. The discussion clarified the roles of a multi-agency Technical Working Group (TWG), which includes guidance counselors, school heads, social welfare and development officers, and law enforcement partners such as the PNP-Women and Children Protection Desk.

Importantly, the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur highlighted its newly launched Child Protection Policy (effective April 27, 2026), which expands the safety net beyond school grounds to ensure all stakeholders are held accountable under a unified provincial framework.

𝗣𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗯" 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁

In a landmark move for the national games, DepEd Caraga is pioneering the establishment of Wellness Hubs alongside traditional protection desks. According to Ms. Generuth Bagaforo, a Registered Guidance Counselor from Butuan City, this wellness hub will provide learners with safe spaces for relaxation and expression amid the high-pressure environment of national competition. The hubs will offer mindfulness exercises, stress-relief interventions, and recreational activities like board games and film screenings to help athletes manage performance anxiety.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗼𝗳𝗳

Final personnel deployment for these desks will be confirmed in early May, following the release of the official game schedules. The meeting concluded with a comprehensive referral roadmap, ensuring that every official knows exactly how to handle and report protection concerns during the event.

With the combined efforts of the LRPO under the guidance of Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion, CESO III, ESSD Chief Edmund Mendoza, and the host province under the leadership of Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr., Caraga Region signals its readiness to host a Palarong Pambansa that is not only competitive but also safe and supportive for every learner-athlete.

By: Leah Ellen V. Yaoyao

TA II – LRPO, DepEd Caraga

𝗘𝗡𝗗