TO BOOST Cebu’s chances in national sporting competitions such as Palarong Pambansa, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 to unite school divisions across Cebu for a single provincial meet that would include both city and municipal divisions.
Garcia made the call during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Cebu Provincial Sports and Cultural Festival (CPSCF) at the City of Naga track oval on Sunday, Feb. 9.
“Our athletes, whether they come from the city or from the towns, must truly come together so we can get the best of the best. This way, in the Palarong Pambansa, the champion athletes from Cebu’s cities won’t be separated from those of the province,” Garcia said in her speech.
The governor said Cebu’s best athletes often compete separately under different divisions, affecting the province’s overall ranking.
“Kon kining atong probinsya gitawag og ‘One Cebu, One Province,’ then let us tear down artificial barriers. Ngano man nga sa natad na nuon sa panagsangka, in athletic games and cultural competitions, maglahi man ang city divisions sa probinsya?” Garcia said.
(If our province is called “One Cebu, One Province,” then let us tear down artificial barriers. Why is it that in the field of competition, in athletic games and cultural competitions, the city divisions are separate from the province?)
The CPSCF will end on Friday, Feb. 14.
According to Garcia, the term “Provincial Meet” is a misnomer since Cebu is composed of 44 municipalities, six component cities and three independent cities — Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue — which function independently of the Province but are often grouped together for statistical and geographical purposes.
According to DepEd 7, Cebu has 10 school divisions, comprising the three independent cities (Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue), six component cities (Bogo, Carcar, Danao, Naga, Talisay and Toledo) and the Cebu Province division.
“That’s why I asked Dr. Sal, is it possible (to merge all the school divisions)? Because you are the one being followed and paid attention to, and thank you for taking the lead. We should have planned this earlier, that we should combine the athletics and cultural competition now,” Garcia said, directing her message to DepEd 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez.
Participants
This year’s CPSCF has 16,358 participants, including 10,494 athletes, 2,487 coaches and chaperones, 755 officiating officials and 2,280 support personnel, according to Cebu Schools Division Superintendent Senen Paulin.
The festival features 24 sports categories and 10 cultural events.
Last year, around 13,000 participants joined the meet.
The Provincial Government will give financial rewards to the winners.
Garcia said the Province has prepared a P50,000 prize for first-place winners, P40,000 for second place and P30,000 for third place.
Meanwhile, first-place winners in the cultural events will receive P20,000, second place P10,000 and third place P5,000.
“May I remind you, this is a competition and a test of strength: Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. We all know, whether you will come out the victors or the losers, you have done your very best, and for me, that is enough for the Province of Cebu,” Garcia said, addressing the student-athletes.
Cviraa qualifiers
Winning athletes and performers from the CPSCF will advance to the 2025 Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association meet in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
Despite having its own city division meet, City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong expressed support for the provincial competition.
“It is our honor in the City of Naga and a pleasure to be your host for the Cebu Province DepEd Family Provincial Meet. We might have our own city division, but we are united as one for our beloved province of Cebu,” Chiong said.
Garcia remains hopeful that future provincial meets will bring together all school divisions in Cebu under one delegation, fostering stronger regional and national representation. / CDF, GLENN C. TAN, BiPSU INTERN, ANV