Palaro to give athletes break from searing heat

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education will implement new measures allowing athletes to take a break at noon to avoid heat stroke during the 2010 Palarong Pambansa slated April 11-17 at the Tarlac Recreational Park in San Jose.

“We will no longer hold games from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. because that period is the hottest during the meet,” said DepEd’s Palaro consultant Len Toledo in yesterday’s ACCEL-backed SCOOP sa Kamayan Padre Faura, Manila.

The new rule will be implemented for the first time in the history of the annual multi-sports meet for elementary and high school student athletes to prevent participants and officials from succumbing to heat stroke.

Two deaths and more than three hundred cases of heat stroke occurred during the 2007 edition of the annual meet in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

“We’re not taking chances,” said Toledo, who is coordinating the staging of the meet with Tarlac Gov. Vic Yap.

Yap said his province, which will be hosting the meet for the first time in the 53-year history of the games, is raring to host this year’s Palaro.

“We’ve met all the requirements especially the venues,” said Yap referring to venues for the 17 high school and 16 elementary events.

The Tarlac governor said they will work for the successful staging of the meet in tribute to his late father, former Gov. Jose “Apeng” Yap.

“This is a dream come true for my father, hosting the Palarong Pambansa. It’s just a pity he will not be able to see this,” said the teary-eyed Yap, whose father passed away only last month.

Assistant Secretary Emilio Abelita II of the organizing Department of Education said all the regional eliminations in the country’s 17 regions, led by perennial overall champion National Capital Region, have been done.

Sufficient water supply and additional electric fans will be provided each billeting quarters for the same purpose, according to Yap.       – J. Villar