NEWS RELEASE||𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲: 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁

SURIGAO CITY, January 15, 2026 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱) 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟴 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

Held at the DepEd Surigao del Norte Division Training Center on January 14, 2026, the meeting was presided over by Surigao City Vice Mayor Hon. Alfonso Casurra, with DepEd Caraga Regional Director Maria Ines C. Asuncion, CESO III, co-presiding.

The following are some of the action points discussed during the meeting:

𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Schools Governance and Operations Division (SGOD) Chief Elizabeth S. Larase reported on the status of billeting quarters, confirming that the City Government of Surigao City had delivered materials for the repair of comfort rooms. She also presented the list of schools assigned to each participating Schools Division, ensuring accommodation plans were finalized ahead of the Games.

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Medical Officer IV and Regional Sports Coordinator Dr. Jumer Carlon presented the official calendar of activities, including pre- and post-event activities from March 5 to March 15, 2026. The schedule included detailed plans for the opening and closing ceremonies, ensuring a smooth flow of events throughout the duration of the Games.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀

Surigao del Norte Education Program Supervisor Vilma Juanite detailed plans for the opening parade, program flow, holding areas, fellowship night, souvenir program, and hydration stations. She also presented the layout of the provincial sports complex, including entry and exit points. Director Asuncion emphasized the need for strategic crowd control measures during the opening program to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀

Director Asuncion recommended implementing a structured system for food supply management and sourcing food locally to support the local economy. Vice Mayor Casurra expressed support, noting the positive economic impact for the City, and committed to recommending an executive order to formalize the process. She further requested that the City Health Office implement measures to ensure food quality for at least 10,200 participants. She also asked the medical team to coordinate sanitation inspections of kitchens and provide orientation for kitchen staff, emphasizing the importance of food safety and proper handling. In line with this, Casurra directed the City Tourism Office to coordinate with food suppliers and handlers.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗚𝗨 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

Represented by Vanessa Dianne Dubduban, the Surigao del Norte Provincial Government pledged to provide food supplies (eggs, pork, rice), tokens, and Php 50,000 in financial support for each delegation. They also committed a fleet of multicabs to facilitate participants’ transportation.

Regional Director Asuncion secured commitments from the Philippine National Police (PNP), who assured the maintenance of safety, peace and order, as well as smooth traffic management throughout the Games. Other partners, including the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), City Medical Team, and Child Protection Committee, also expressed full support for the event.

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀

Director Asuncion and the organizing team finalized key aspects of the opening program, including the presentation of the Caragames jingle and a cover for the souvenir program. These activities are expected to showcase the spirit of unity and sportsmanship among the participants while ensuring logistical efficiency and safety.

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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