The 2020 Palarong Pambansa in Marikina will go on as scheduled.
The Department of Education backed down on its earlier decision to postpone it and will no longer include the national games in its list of events that it will put on hold.
DepEd officials yesterday clarified that national and regional competitions for students in February are the only ones they are canceling amidst the risk posed by the novel coronavirus.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones issued a memorandum late Tuesday night, listing the events that the department cancelled and planned for the month.
“Upon advice of [Department of Health], all national and regional activities involving learners and/or teachers requiring travel and congregation of various schools, divisions, and/or regions are suspended,” it read.
The suspension will only cover the staging of National Science and Technology Fair, the National Schools Press Conference and the National Festival of Talents.
The student journalism competition was supposed to be held in Tuguegarao, Cagayan on February 17 to 21.
All off-campus activities such as field trips are also suspended. It also “highly discouraged” gatherings of schools in division and district activities.
DepEd however stressed that the Palarong Pambansa, scheduled in May, is not covered by the suspension.
The last time the Palaro was called off was in 2001.
It was slated in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, but was scrapped due to lack of funds and peace and order situation.