THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Western Visayas has reset the conduct of the 2020 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Meet (WVRAA) tentatively on March 21-28, 2020 still in Makato, Aklan.

This was confirmed by DepEd Negros Occidental sports coordinator Romeo Sison following their Regional Management Committee (ManCom) meeting last Thursday, February 6.

At the meeting, all 20 Schools Division Offices decided to tentatively reschedule the staging of the annual regional sporting event.

And in line with the Negrense contingents' preparation adjustments, selected athletes who are on training at other schools and venues are advised to return to their respective schools for the time being and attend classes.

However, they are still encouraged to continue their training at their schools and wait for further information regarding the conduct of the meet.

In a statement posted on the DepEd Region 6 Facebook page, it said the move to indefinitely postpone the staging of WVRAA scheduled on February 15-22, 2020 was based on the recommendations of the Provincial Health Office and local government unit of Aklan as coordinated by DepEd-Western Visayas Director Ma. Gemma M. Ledesma.

This is in response to the national government's call to avoid crowded places as a precautionary measure to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) scare.

"We cannot afford to risk the safety and health of almost 6,000 delegates which include athletes, coaches, technical officials, chaperones, and working committees," Ledesma said.