PHYSICAL and sports activities should still continue for students and stakeholders, an official of the Department of Education in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) said.
Agustin Gumuwang, education support services division chief, said men, women and children should have continuous physical activities, which are needed by the body.
"Men and women, children should have continuous physical activities. We are not prohibited to continue our physical exercises na kailangan na kailangan ng katawan," added Gumuwang.
But Gumuwang said there are still no guidelines for resumption of school-based sports activities.
He said athletes are continuously given workout by their coaches online.
Various school-based sports activities were cancelled this year, including the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) meet.
With classes for public schools are already set next month, DepEd-CAR said physical education is still part of the learner's curriculum.
To recall, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and DepEd are one in the belief that physical education should remain in the curriculum of the country's education system after a senator proposed that it should be temporarily removed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his position paper, PSC chairman William Ramirez believes in the importance of PE so much that he believes it should be a core subject.
"A sound mind in a sound body. These words hang in big, bold letters in the Philippine Sports Commission's gymnasium, reminding everyone how the two are inevitably intertwined. A healthy mind recognizes the benefits of a sound body. A sound body, supports and makes possible a sound mind. A reciprocal and complementary process that produces a well-rounded, healthy human being.
And therein anchored is my belief that Physical Education is important to the holistic education of our children. Its importance is such that I believe it should be a 'core subject,'" said Ramirez.
Ramirez said he had written to DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones regarding the matter and said he had gotten positive feedback. (With a report from SunStar Philippines)