DepEd Caraga Regional Office

May 28, 2026

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗿’𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻-𝗮𝘆, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱.

Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr. and Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Operations Malcolm S. Garma addressed issues raised by both local and national media concerning athlete welfare, competition management, infrastructure, and the long-term impact of the Palaro on the province.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆

Usec. Garma emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the heat index to ensure the safety and well-being of athletes throughout the duration of the games. He added that all athletes affected by health issues received appropriate medical intervention.

Addressing reports of mild gastroenteritis cases, Garma clarified that the affected athletes, mostly from Region VIII, had reportedly consumed spoiled food brought from their billeting quarters.

Garma also disclosed that he personally visited the site, noting that the athletes were immediately given oral rehydration and medical attention and were later declared fit to continue competing.

Governor Cane reported that, as of 5:00 p.m., authorities recorded 165 medical encounters, including those involving Region VIII delegates. All were discharged after receiving proper treatment. He also confirmed that designated hospital beds had been prepared in advance to ensure immediate response when necessary.

Meanwhile, the governor assured the public that injured gymnasts are receiving full support from the provincial government. “I already instructed concerned offices to provide all their needs,” he said.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀

Governor Cane announced that Agusan del Sur will provide a ₱1 million incentive to any athlete from the province who breaks a national or international record. Meanwhile, Agusanon athletes who establish new Palarong Pambansa records will receive ₱50,000 in incentives.

Regarding financial support, he clarified that DepEd does not distribute direct cash allowances, it provides sports materials and logistical assistance to delegates.

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗨𝘀𝗲

Governor Cane stressed that the sports facilities developed for the Palaro are intended for long-term public use. He assured that the facilities would not become “white elephants,” emphasizing that they will remain open and accessible even after the games. He added that facility development would continue based on the evolving needs of athletes.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Usec. Garma expressed confidence in Agusan del Sur’s capability to host future national sporting events. “The province can always host another Palaro,” he said. He clarified, however, that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), not DepEd, will determine readiness for larger national or international competitions. He also confirmed that Quezon City will host the next Palarong Pambansa.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Addressing concerns over delays in posting official results and medal tallies, Garma explained that results undergo a verification process before being declared official. He advised media personnel to coordinate with the Media Center and rely on flashed results during competitions while awaiting official tallies.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀

On the participation of private schools, Garma clarified that it is allowed under existing laws and policies governing school sports competitions.

He also underscored the Palarong Pambansa’s role as a platform for discovering emerging athletic talent, noting that athletes may later be recruited by universities, professional leagues, or national training pools.

On balancing academics and athletics, Garma emphasized that schools consistently strive to maintain both throughout the academic year.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀

Officials also addressed a fire incident in Talacogon that temporarily affected a competition venue for Table Tennis. Garma clarified that the incident occurred outside the actual playing area and that safety protocols were properly followed, allowing games to resume.

Initial reports suggest the fire may have been caused by improperly placed materials, though authorities are still awaiting the official report from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Governor Cane noted that prior emergency preparedness simulations proved effective during the incident.

𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The press conference also touched on the proposed tri-term academic calendar and its impact on the schedules of the games at various levels. Garma clarified that it is not a trimester system and will not reduce the mandated number of school days.

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

When asked if Agusan del Sur would specialize in specific sports disciplines, Governor Cane said the province remains open to supporting any sport its communities choose to develop. “If the Batang Pinoy management will allow us, we are willing to host it,” he added, drawing appreciation from Usec. Garma.

𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

As the Palaro continues, Governor Cane encouraged delegates and visitors to maximize their stay by joining free tours and visiting the province’s renowned Soil Laboratory, which he described as the only one of its kind in the country.

He also welcomed constructive feedback from stakeholders and media practitioners to further improve future hosting efforts.

By: 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

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