THE DEPARTMENT of Education is looking for more grassroots sports program in the countryside.
Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo of Dep-d during a visit in Apayao said aside from the Palarong Pambansa, the agency is looking at providing more grassroots sports program to help the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Escobedo said while Palarong Pambansa has a bigger scope, the planned grassroots program will have a smaller target which may focus on several sports that will cater to students who will not be playing in the annual national games.
DepEd, together with PSC, has earlier signed a memorandum of agreement to develop young athletes from the elementary to the high school level.
Under the MOA, the DepEd will provide facilities and the links with local government units while PSC will upgrade the coaching skills of teachers and coaches and provide the sports science need to upgrade skills.
The agreement will also collaborate resources of both parties to develop athletes, train coaches, and to tap expert training and methods abroad.
DepEd and PSC earlier set its focus in 10 sports in a bid to provide promising talents the opportunities to excel and to compete.
Among the 10 sports include swimming, track and field, weightlifting, women’s sports, archery, surfing, cycling, athletics, taekwondo, boxing, judo and arnis.