DESPITE appeals from Cebu district schools supervisors, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia stood pat on her opposition to the holding of off-site activities for safety purposes.
During the Provincial School Board (PSB) meeting Tuesday afternoon, February 4, 2020, Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Marilyn Andales presented a letter of endorsement stating the appeal of district schools supervisors that their students be allowed to join the Central Visayas ang Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa).
This year's Cviraa was supposed to be held in Dumaguete City from February 22 to 29.
But as a precuationary measure against the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD), DepEd has temporarily postponed the Palarong Pambansa and other big events lined up for the first quarter of 2020 such as Cviraa.
The schools division would need the PSB's support, especially for financial assistance through the Special Education Fund.
"I already gave you fair warning. You're not going to change my mind no matter how much you threaten me about not winning in the next elections because this isn't about the elections. It's about my responsibility to the school children being subjected to so much risk," said Garcia, who sits as co-chairperson of the PSB.
The governor, though, maintained that the students' safety should remain a paramount concern.
The governor suggested that the schools division invite talent scouts instead of holding sports meets to prevent untoward incidents. (RTF)