By Connie Calipay/PNA
LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol has formulated safety nets to prevent any measles incident at the week-long Palarong Bicol (Bicol Meet) slated next week in the island-province of Masbate.
In a press conference on Monday, DepEd Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said they took effort to ensure a healthy and safe environment for the athletes and other participants during the event.
“To prevent that (measles), every medical officer of divisions were instructed to check athletes before going to Masbate. Kung meron ng symptoms at lagnat huwag ng isama” (If symptoms of measles and fever are present, athletes will not be allowed to participate in the event),” he said.
During the event, every billeting school will have a designated quarantine area for any suspected measles case. Nurses and medical officers will be on duty 24/7, Sadsad noted.
“Athletes are advised every after competition to report immediately to the school/billeting school to prevent getting any airborne diseases and every day, regularly wash their hands,” the DepEd official said.
He added that after the Palaro, participants in the event will be quarantined for five days, during which their health status will be checked and observed.
“We have to ensure the safety of the students from Masbate and as they return home, the students of their schools and their community” Sadsad said.
Based on DepEd-Bicol monitoring, no single case of measles has so far been reported to its office.
“Also, the DepEd Masbate together with the local government of Masbate assured the public that the athletes for these events are all vaccinated,” Sadsad said.
The 2019 Bicol Regional Athletic Association (BRAA) meet will kick off at the Masbate Sports Complex on Feb. 24, to be participated in by young athletes from all over the region.
The annual regional sports meet serves as venue in choosing Bicol’s delegates to the Palarong Pambansa. This year’s event in Bicol carries the theme “Braving Waves, Honoring Change”.
